eeze."

The scowman helped Screech Owl to her feet, and supported her back over
the graves to the toolhouse.

"Ye stay here till I come for ye, Scraggy, and don't ye dare go 'way no
place. Do ye hear?"

Screech Owl uttered an obedient assent, and Lem left her with a threat
that he would beat her if she moved from the spot. Then he crawled along
the Brimbecomb fence, and saw Lon leaning against a tree, some distance
down the road.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

After Everett's departure, Ann tripped into Floyd's room in a happier
state of mind than had been hers for several days. It had been her habit
to kneel beside the boy at night and send up a petition for his
recovery. Now she would thank God for his goodness to her,--Everett had
come to be more like himself, and Floyd's welcoming smile sent a thrill
of joy through her. As Ann entered, Fledra looked up from her book. Her
pale, beseeching face drew Miss Shellington to her.

"Fledra dear, you study too late and too hard. You don't look at all
well."

"I keep tellin' her that same thing, Sister Ann," said Floyd; "but she
keeps mutterin' over them words till I know 'em myself."

Miss Shellington turned Fledra's face up to hers, smoothing down the
dark curls.

"Go to bed, child; you're absolutely tired out. Kiss me goodnight,
Dear."

Fledra loitered in the hall until she heard Miss Shellington leave
Floyd; then she stole forward.

"Will you come to my room a little while, Sister Ann?"

Without a word, Ann took the girl's hand; together they entered the blue
room.

Fledra wheeled about upon Miss Shellington, when the door had been,
closed.

"Do you believe all those things you pray about, Sister Ann?" she
appealed brokenly.

Ann questioned Fledra with a look; the girl made clearer her demand by
adding:

"Do you believe that Jesus hears you when you ask Him something you want
very, very bad?"

She looked so miserable, so frail and lonely, that Ann put her arms
about her.

"Sit down here with me, Fledra. There! Put your little tired head right
here, and I'll tell you all I can."

"I want to be helped!" murmured Fledra.

"I've known that for sometime," Ann said softly; "and I'm so happy that
you've come to me!"

"It's nothin' you can do; but I was thinkin' that perhaps Jesus could do
it."

Ann pressed the girl closer.

"Is it something you can't tell me?"

Fledra nodded.

"And you can't tell my brother?"

The girl's nervous start filled An