island," the old lady said; "but we do
love to have visitors. Don't we, Corson?"

"Nice ones," admitted the cripple, munching cake.

He had heard something of what Nan suggested to Toby about the moths
and other specimens. So when the old lady was absent from the porch he
whispered:

"Say, girl!"

"Well?" she asked, smiling at him.

"Is what's in that cabinet wuth as much as a dollar?"

"Oh! I expect so," said Nan. "More."

"Will you give me a dollar for 'em?" he asked, eagerly.

"Oh, I couldn't! But perhaps I can write to somebody who would be
interested in buying some of your things, and for much more than a
dollar."

Corson looked disappointed. Nan asked, curiously: "Why do you want the
dollar?"

"To git Gran'mom a silk dress," he said promptly. "She's admired to have
one all her life, and ain't never got to git it yet."

"I'm sure that's nice of you," declared Nan, warmly. "I'll try to sell
some of your collection."

"Well!" he jerked out. "It's got to be pretty soon, or she won't git to
wear it much. I heard her tell Gran'pop so."

This impressed Nan Sherwood as being very pitiful, for she was of a
sympathetic nature. And it showed that Corson Vanderwiller, even if he
was simple-minded, possessed one of the great human virtues, gratitude.

Chapter XXIII. A MYSTERY

On this, her first visit to the island in the swamp, Nan said nothing
to old Toby Vanderwiller about the line dispute between her uncle and
Gedney Raffer, which the old lumberman was supposed to be able to settle
if he would.

Mrs. Vanderwiller insisted upon Toby's hitching up an old, broken-kneed
pony he owned, and taking her over the corduroy road to Pine Camp, where
she arrived before dark. To tell the truth, little Margaret Llewellen
was not the only person who thought it odd that Nan should want to go
to see the Vanderwillers in the heart of the tamarack swamp. Nan's uncle
and aunt and cousins considered their guest a little odd; but they made
no open comment when the girl arrived at home after her visit.

Nan was full of the wonders she had seen, commonplace enough to her
relatives who had lived all their lives in touch with the beautiful and
queer things of Nature as displayed in the Michigan Peninsula. Perhaps
none but Tom appreciated her ecstasy over crippled Corson Vanderwiller's
collection.

Rafe was inclined to poke good-natured fun at his young cousin for her
enthusiasm; but Tom showed an understanding that quite