r brother then we'll send him a ticket to
Boston and some money. Don't you worry, Thankful; we'll get him here.
And don't you fret about the money neither. I'll 'tend to that and you
can pay me afterwards."

"No, no; of course I shan't let--"

"Yes, you will. There's some things you can't stop and that's one of
'em. You talked about our friendship, didn't you? Well, unless you want
me to believe I ain't your friend, you'll let me run my own course
this time. So long, Thankful; I'm off to Chris Badger's to send that
telegram."

He snatched up his cap and was on his way to the door. She followed him.

"Obed," she faltered, "I--I--What CAN I say to you? You are SO good!"

"Tut! tut! Me good? Don't let Heman Daniels hear you say that. He's a
church deacon and knows what goodness is. So long, Thankful. Soon's I
hear from Kelly, I'll report."

He hurried from the house. Thankful watched him striding down the path.
Not once did he hesitate or look back. She turned from the door and,
returning to her chair by the center table, sat down. For a moment she
sat there and then, leaning her head upon her arms on the table, wept
tears of absolute loneliness and despair.

The telegram to Michael Kelly of San Francisco brought an answer, but
a most unsatisfactory one. Jedediah Cahoon had not been in the Kelly
employ for more than six weeks. Kelly did not know where he had gone
and, apparently, did not care. Captain Obed then wired and wrote the San
Francisco police officials, urging them to trace the lost one. This they
promised to do, but nothing came of it. The weeks passed and no word
from them or from Jedediah himself was received. His letter had come to
prove that, at the time it was written, he was alive; whether or not he
was still alive, or where he might be if living, was as great a mystery
as ever. Day after day Thankful watched and waited and hoped, but her
waiting was unrewarded, and, though she still hoped, her hope grew
steadily fainter; and the self-reproach and the worry greater in
proportion.

She and Georgie and Imogene spent Thanksgiving Day alone. Heman Daniels
and Mr. Hammond were invited out and Captain Obed, who had meant to eat
his Thanksgiving dinner at the High Cliff House, was called to Boston on
business connected with his fish selling, and could not return in time.

Early in December Thankful once more drove to Trumet to call upon
Solomon Cobb. The question of the renewal of the mortgage she felt m