. What's
the matter?"

"I've lots of troubles, Elder Concannon," she said, with a sigh. "But
you have your share, too, so I'll keep most of mine to myself," and she
hopped out from behind the wheel of the automobile.

They went to the porch and the elder halloaed in at the screen door.
His housekeeper soon bustled out with the tray. She remained to take
one cup of tea herself. Then, when she had gone about her duties,
Janice opened the subject upon which she had come to confer.

"How are those men getting on in your wood lot, Elder?"

"What men--and what lot?" he asked smiling.

"I don't know what lot it is; but I mean Mr. Trimmins and those others."

"Oh! Trimmins and Jim Narnay and that Besmith boy?"

"Yes."

"Why, they are moving on slowly. This is their third job with me since
Winter. Once or twice they've kicked over the traces and gone on a
spree----"

"That was when you paid them?"

"That was when I _had_ to pay them," said the elder. "They work pretty
well when they haven't any money."

"Have you paid them lately, Sir?" asked Janice. "I am asking for a
very good reason--not out of curiosity."

"I have not. It's a month and more since they saw the color of my
money. Hold on! that's not quite true," he added suddenly. "I gave
Jim Narnay a dollar Saturday afternoon."

"Oh!"

"He came by here on his way to town. Said he was going down to see his
sick baby. She _is_ sick, isn't she?"

"Oh, yes," murmured Janice. "Poor little thing!"

"Well, he begged for some money, and I let him have a dollar. He said
he didn't want to go down home without a cent in his pocket. So I gave
it to him."

"Only a dollar?" repeated the girl thoughtfully.

The old man's face flushed a little, and he said tartly: "I reckon
_that_ did him no good. By the looks of his face when he went through
here Sunday night he'd proberbly spent it all in liquor, I sh'd say."

"Oh, no! I didn't mean to criticize your generosity," Janice said
quickly. "I believe you gave him more than was good for him. I know
that Mrs. Narnay and the children had little benefit of it."

"That's what I supposed," grunted the elder.

Janice sipped her tea and, looking over the edge of her cup at him,
asked:

"Having much trouble, Elder, with your new man?"

"What new man?" snorted the old gentleman, his mouth screwed up very
tightly.

"I hear you have the school teacher working for you," she said.

"Well! So I have," he