hat could be done to restore the
child to her friends.

The first news that came to Hugh O'Hara's cabin of the loss of the
child was brought by Jack Hansell, who went thither on a far different
errand. After a long talk on business, he gave the tidings, adding:

"I met him at the creek, but thought I wouldn't tell him, for it would
do no good. I kept my eyes open for the gal, but seen nothing of her."

Hugh jerked the pipe from his mouth.

"What's that you are saying? The little girl lost?"

"That's it; she's been missing since noon; they think she come up the
path and got lost in the mountains."

"Good gracious!" gasped Hugh, starting to his feet, "that is bad; do
you know," he added, turning to Tom and speaking with a slight tremor,
"that that little girl Dollie is about the age my Jennie was when she
died?"

"I hadn't thought of that," replied Tom.

"And," continued Hugh, swallowing a lump in his throat, "she looks so
much like Jennie that I've often felt as if I would give all I
have--which ain't much--to hold the little one on my knee as I used to
hold my baby. She is a sweet child and likes me; we've had many a talk
together that no one beside us knows about. She's so gentle, so
innocent, so good that it seems to me I see my own darling before me
when she looks up in my face. Come, boys," he added, decisively, as he
walked to the farther end of the room, picked up a lantern and lit the
candle inside.

"Come where?" asked Tom, in amazement.

Hugh turned half angrily toward him.

"Do you think that I could rest while that child is lost in the
mountains? Mr. Bradley hasn't acted right toward us and I bear him no
good will, but this isn't _he_--it's a little child--she looks and acts
like my Jennie, that's dead and gone."

"But, Hugh, you forget--what about the place?"

"Let it go to the dogs for all I care! What does it amount to against
the life of the little one? But we'll let Jack stay; if any of the
boys come, send them out to help in the hunt; it'll do them more good
than to break the law."

"Suppose some that are strangers come?" said Jack with a grin.

Hugh O'Hara gave a hollow laugh.

"Send them out, too, to help in the search; we'll be sure to find her
when the whole country gets to work. If I was down in the village I
would have every man, woman and child in the woods, and wouldn't let
them eat or drink or sleep till she's found. Tom, there's no one that
knows the woods bette