red side of conspicuous trees, left
one with the storekeeper, and another with the smith. Then they drove on.

They made no pretence at conversation. Bannon seemed asleep save that he
was always ready with his hammer and his posters whenever Sloan halted the
mare. The west wind freshened as the evening came on and dashed fine,
sleety rain into their faces. Bannon huddled his wet coat closer about
him. Sloan put the reins between his knees and pulled on a pair of heavy
gloves.

It had been dark for half an hour--Bannon could hardly distinguish the
moving figure of the mare--when Sloan spoke to her and drew her to a walk.
Bannon reached for his hammer. "No crossroad here," said Sloan. "Bridge
out of repair. We've got to fetch a circle here up to where she can wade
it."

"Hold on," said Bannon sharply. "Let me get out."

"Don't be scared. We'll make it all right."

"We! Yes, but will fifteen hundred feet of lumber make it? I want to take
a look."

He splashed forward in the dark, but soon returned. "It's nothing that
can't be fixed in two hours. Where's the nearest farmhouse?"

"Fifty rods up the road to your right."

Again Bannon disappeared. Presently Sloan heard the deep challenge of a
big dog. He backed the buggy around up against the wind so that he could
have shelter while he waited. Then he pulled a spare blanket from under
the seat and threw it over the mare. At the end of twenty minutes, he saw
a lantern bobbing toward him.

The big farmer who accompanied Bannon held the lantern high and looked
over the mare. "It's her all right," he said. Then he turned so that the
light shone full in Sloan's face. "Good evening, Mr. Sloan," he said.
"You'll excuse me, but is what this gentleman tells me all straight?"

"Guess it is," Sloan smiled. "I'd bank on him myself."

The farmer nodded with satisfaction. "All right then, Mr.
What's-your-name. I'll have it done for you."

Sloan asked no questions until they had forded the stream and were back on
the road. Then he inquired, "What's he going to do?"

"Mend the bridge. I told him it had to be done tonight. Said he couldn't.
Hadn't any lumber. Couldn't think of it. I told him to pull down the lee
side of his house if necessary; said you'd give him the lumber to build an
annex on it."

"What!"

"Oh, it's all right. Send the bill to MacBride. I knew your name would go
down and mine wouldn't."

The delay had proved costly, and it was half-past seven before they