ry welcome, Elder Concannon," Janice said, smiling at him.

She kissed the two babies and Virginia, shook hands with Mrs. Trimmins,
and then waved a gloved hand to the rest of the family as she settled
herself behind the steering wheel. The elder got into the seat beside
her.

"I declare for't, Janice!" the elder said, as the started, the words
being fairly jerked ouf of his mouth, "I dunno but I'd like to own one
of these contraptions myself. You can git around lively in 'em--and
that's a fac'."

"They are a whole lot better than 'shanks' mare,' Elder," said the
young girl, laughing.

"I--should--say! And handy, too, when the teams are all busy. Now I
had to walk clean over the mountain to-day to that piece where Trimmins
and them men are working. Warn't a hoss fit to use."

"Has Mr. Trimmins a big gang at work?"

The elder chuckled. "He calls it a gang--him, and Jim Narnay, and a
boy. They've all got a sleight with the axe, I do allow; and the boy
handles the team right well."

"Is he Jack Besmith?" questioned Janice.

"That's his name, I believe," said the elder. "Likely boy, I guess.
But if I let 'em have any money before the job is done--as Trimmins
wants me to--none of 'em would do much till the money was spent--boy
and all."

"It is too bad about young Besmith," Janice said, shaking her head.
"He is only a boy."

"Yep. But a month or so in the woods without drink will do him a heap
of good."

That very evening, however, Janice saw Jack Besmith in town. From
Marty she learned that he did not stay long.

"He came in for booze--that's what he come for," said her cousin, in
disgust. "He started right back for the woods with a two-gallon
demi-john."

"And I thought they had no money up there," Janice reflected. "Can it
be that Lem Parraday or his barkeeper would trust them for drink?"

Marty was nursing a lump on his jaw and a cut lip. The morning's
battle, had not gone all his way, although he said to Janice with his
usual impish grin when she commented upon his battered appearance:
"You'd orter see the other feller! If Nelson Haley hadn't got in
betwixt us I'd ha' whopped Sim Howell good and proper. I was some
excited, I allow. If I hadn't been I needn't never run ag'inst Sim's
fist a-_tall_. He's a clumsy kid, if ever there was one--and I reckon
he's got enough of me for a spell. Anyway, he won't get fresh with Mr.
Haley again--nor none of the rest of 'em."

"Dear me, Marty! i