e spoke, Joe Ratowsky came across the lawn. In the moonlight, he
looked like a great tawny giant. He spoke in English: "Mr. Hobart, that
beeznez is no good. He no stay to-morrow. To-day homes he goes quick."

"Where is his home? Doesn't he live here?"

"Dennis O'Day, b'gosh, niver. So many as one children he have. Milton, he
live."

"Why doesn't he bring his family here? I didn't know the man was
married."

"Umh--yes, b'gosh. His girl tall like your girl. He no bring her. He proud
like the tivil. Never he tell his girl what he do here--no, b'gosh, he
don't."

"Well, come in and I will talk the matter over. We can't do much else than
wait." Then turning to his daughter, "Good-night, Elizabeth, I must talk
to Joe now."

Elizabeth ascended the stair. Joe's visit had taken her mind from her
going away. She wondered what the Pole could have in common with her
father. Joe was not even a miner.

CHAPTER II.

THE JOURNEY.

Only accommodation trains ran between Bitumen and Exeter. Elizabeth found
herself in a motley crowd of passengers. To her right sat a shabbily
dressed mother with a sick baby in her arms; back of her was a plain
little woman of middle age dressed in a gingham suit and rough straw hat;
while before her sat two young women, perhaps a year or two older than
herself. They talked loudly enough to attract the attention of those about
them. Elizabeth learned that the larger was named Landis, and her
companion "Min."

They were handsomely though showily dressed. Min seemed to be less
self-assertive than her companion. Landis evidently had confidence enough
for two. She frequently turned to look around, gazing into the faces of
her fellow passengers with a self-assurance that in one of her age
amounted almost to boldness.

She had been careful to arrange her jacket that its handsome buckle and
silk lining were in evidence. She was a girl of large physique, with broad
shoulders, which she carried rigidly. This, with the haughty pose of her
head, attracted attention to her even in a crowd.

Her companion was as tall, but more slender. It was evident that she
looked up to Landis and depended upon her in every emergency. A reader of
human nature could have seen at a glance that she was the weaker.

From their conversation, it appeared they knew all places and people of
importance along the route. As the train stopped at Westport, Landis
viewed the town with critical eye.

"Tacky little hole, isn