, I b'lieve I've sprained my ankle."

The young fellow from Hepzibah was in a mood for play. After all he was
only a big boy, and he had been long barred out from young people's
frolics. Here was a gay, toward little soul, who seemed to like him. He
stooped and caught her by the waist, picking her up as one might a small
child, and holding her a moment with her feet off the floor. Something in
the laughing challenge of her face as she protested and begged to be put
down prompted him as to what was expected. He kissed her lightly upon the
cheek before he released her.

As he set her down he encountered Wade Turrentine's eye. A spark of tawny
fire had leaped to life in its hazel depth. The fiddler still clung
faithfully to his office. If he missed a note now and again, or played
off key, he might be forgiven. It is to be remembered that he sawed away
without a moment's pause throughout the entire episode.

Creed reached out to join the broken line and touched Jeff's arm. The boy
flung away from the contact with a muttered word. He looked helplessly at
Judith, but she would not glance at him; head haughtily erect, long
lashes on crimson cheeks, red lip curled to an expression of offence and
disdain, the young hostess mended the line by joining the hands of the
two girls on each side of her.

"You-all can go on playin' without me," she said in a constrained tone.
"I got to see to something in the other room."

"See here, Mister Man," remarked Blatch, as Judith prepared to leave.
"You're mighty free and permisc'ous makin' rules for kissin' games, but I
take notice you don't follow none of 'em yo'se'f."

Judith halted uncertainly. To stop and defend Creed was out of the
question. She was about to interpose with the general accusation that
Blatch was trying to pick a fuss and break up her play-party, when Iley's
voice, for once a welcome interruption, broke in from the doorway.

"Jude, we ain't got plates enough for everybody an' to put the biscuit
on," called Jim Cal's wife. "Ax Creed Bonbright could we borry a few from
his house."

Judith closed instantly with the diversion. She moved quickly toward the
door; Bonbright joined her.

"Why yes," he said. "You know I told you to help yourself. Let me go over
now and get what you want. Is there anything else?"

"That's mighty kind of you, Creed," Judith thanked him. "I reckon I
better go along with ye and see. I don't think of anything else just now.
Iley, we'll be bac