w the
ladies."

"But this is growing more and more mysterious," protested Cameron. "Can
no one tell me how the thing originated? The sash and doors now, where
did they come from?"

"Oh, that's easy," said Cochrane. "I was at the Post Office, and,
hearin' Smith talkin' 'bout this raisin' bee and how they were stuck for
sash and door, so seein' I wasn't goin' to build this fall I told him he
might as well have the use of these. My team was laid up and Smith got
Jim Bracken to haul 'em down."

"Well, this gets me," said Cameron. "It appears no one started this
thing. Everything just happened. Now the shingles, I suppose they just
tumbled up into their place there."

"The shingles?" said Cochrane. "I dunno 'bout them. Didn't know there
were any in the country."

"Oh, they just got up into place there of themselves I have no doubt,"
said Cameron.

"The shingles? Ah, bay Jove! Rawthah! Funny thing, don't-che-naow,"
chimed in a young fellow attired in rather emphasized cow-boy style,
"funny thing! A Johnnie--quite a strangah to me, don't-che-naow, was
riding pawst my place lawst week and mentioned about this--ah--raisin'
bee he called it I think, and in fact abaout the blawsted Indian, and
the fire, don't-che-naow, and all the rest of it, and how the chaps were
all chipping in as he said, logs and lumbah and so fowth. And then, bay
Jove, he happened to mention that they were rathah stumped for shingles,
don't-che-naow, and, funny thing, there chawnced to be behind my
stable a few bunches, and I was awfully glad to tu'n them ovah, and
this--eh--pehson--most extraordinary chap I assuah you--got 'em down
somehow."

"Who was it inquired?" asked Cameron.

"Don't naow him in the least. But it's the chap that seems to be bossing
the job."

"Oh, that's Smith," said Cochrane.

"Smith!" said Cameron, in great surprise. "I don't even know the man. He
was good enough to help my wife to beat back the fire. I don't believe I
even spoke to him. Who is he anyway?"

"Oh, he's Thatcher's man."

"Yes, but--"

"Come away, Mr. Cameron," cried Mrs. Cochrane from the door of the new
house. "Come away in and look at the result of our bee."

"This beats me," said Cameron, obeying the invitation, "but, say,
Dickson, it is mighty good of all these men. I have no claim--"

"Claim?" said Mr. Cochrane. "It might have been any of us. We must stand
together in this country, and especially these days, eh, Inspector?
Things are gettin' se