l, I swan!" exclaimed Pete Barnes.

"What do you suppose he meant by saying they thought you were lost?"
Judith asked on the way home from Ryeville. "Didn't they know you were
coming to me?"

"No," faltered Miss Ann. "I seldom divulge where I intend to visit
next. That is my affair," she added with a touch of her former
hauteur--a manner she had discarded with the wig and hoop skirt. Wild
horses could not drag from her the fact that she had not known herself
where she was going.

"That's all right, Cousin Ann, but if you ever get tired of staying at
my house I am going to be hurt beyond measure if you go off without
telling me where you are going. Promise me you'll never treat me that
way."

"I promise. I have never told the others because it has never made any
difference to them."

When the blue car disappeared up the street the old men of Ryeville
went into conference.

"Don't that beat bobtail?"

"Do you fellows realize that means our gal is recognized for good and
all? Miss Ann may be played out as a visitor with her kinfolks, but
she's still head forester of the family tree," said Judge Middleton.

"Don't you reckon we'd better 'phone Buck Hill or Big Josh or some of
the family that Miss Ann is found?" asked Pete Barnes.

"No, let's let 'em worry a while longer. They've been kinder careless
of Miss Ann to have mislaid her, and mighty snobbish with our gal not
to have claimed kin with her long ago. My advice is let 'em worry, let
'em worry," decreed Major Fitch.

Miss Ann wasn't lost very long, however. That same evening, when
Judith made her daily trip to the trolley stop with the men's dinner,
Jefferson Bucknor stepped from the rear platform of the six-thirty.

"In time to carry your 'empties' for you," he said, shaking Judith's
hand with a warmth that his casual greeting did not warrant. Judith
surrendered the basket, but held on to the empty milk can.

"Your trusty weapon," said Jeff, and they both laughed. "Have you
knocked anybody down lately?" the young man asked.

"Not many, but I am always prepared with my milk can. It is a deadly
weapon, with or without buttermilk."

"I wonder if you are anywhere near so glad to see me as I am to see
you. I have been sticking to business and trying to make believe that
Louisville is as nice as Ryeville, and Louisville girls are as
beautiful as they are reputed to be, and that the law is the most
interesting thing in the world, but somehow I can't fool mys