with flushing face, "I know. I know
all that, but you know what I mean."

"Yes, I know perfectly," said her brother, "for I had the same notion.
For instance, for six months I was a 'servant' in Mandy's home, eh,
Mandy?"

"Nonsense!" cried Mandy indignantly. "You were our hired man and just
like the rest of us."

"Do you get that distinction, Moira? There is no such thing as servant
in this country," continued Cameron. "We are all the same socially and
stand to help each other. Rather a fine idea that."

"Yes, fine," cried Moira, "but--" and she paused, her face still
flushed.

"Who's Smith? is the great question," interjected Dent. "Well, then,
Miss Cameron, between you and me we don't ask that question in this
country. Smith is Smith and Jones is Jones and that's the first and last
of it. We all let it go at that."

But now the last row of shingles was in place, the last door hung, the
last door-knob set. The whole house stood complete, inside and out, top
and bottom, when a tattoo beat upon a dish pan gave the summons to the
supper table. The table was spread in all its luxurious variety and
abundance beneath the poplar trees. There the people gathered all upon
the basis of pure democratic equality, "Duke's son and cook's son," each
estimated at such worth as could be demonstrated was in him. Fictitious
standards of values were ignored. Every man was given his fair
opportunity to show his stuff and according to his showing was his place
in the community. A generous good fellowship and friendly good-will
toward the new-comer pervaded the company, but with all this a kind of
reserve marked the intercourse of these men with each other. Men were
taken on trial at face value and no questions asked.

This evening, however, the dominant note was one of generous and
enthusiastic sympathy with the young rancher and his wife, who had come
so lately among them and who had been made the unfortunate victim of
a sinister and threatening foe, hitherto, it is true, regarded with
indifference or with friendly pity but lately assuming an ominous
importance. There was underneath the gay hilarity of the gathering an
undertone of apprehension until the Inspector made his speech. It was
short and went straight at the mark. There was danger, he acknowledged.
It would be idle to ignore that there were ugly rumors flying. There was
need for watchfulness, but there was no need for alarm. The Police Force
was charged with the responsi