bility of protecting the lives and property
of the people. They assumed to the full this responsibility, though they
were very short-handed at present, but if they ever felt they needed
assistance they knew they could rely upon the steady courage of the men
of the district such as he saw before him.

There was need of no further words and the Inspector's speech passed
with no response. It was not after the manner of these men to make
demonstration either of their loyalty or of their courage.

Cameron's speech at the last came haltingly. On the one hand his
Highland pride made it difficult for him to accept gifts from any source
whatever. On the other hand his Highland courtesy forbade his giving
offense to those who were at once his hosts and his guests, but none
suspected the reason for the halting in his speech. As Western men they
rather approved than otherwise the hesitation and reserve that marked
his words.

Before they rose from the supper table, however, there were calls for
Mrs. Cameron, calls so insistent and clamorous that, overcoming her
embarrassment, she made reply. "We have not yet found out who was
responsible for the originating of this great kindness. But no matter.
We forgive him, for otherwise my husband and I would never have come to
know how rich we are in true friends and kind neighbors, and now that
you have built this house let me say that henceforth by day or by night
you are welcome to it, for it is yours."

After the storm of applause had died down, a voice was heard gruffly and
somewhat anxiously protesting, "But not all at one time."

"Who was that?" asked Mandy of young Dent as the supper party broke up.

"That's Smith," said Dent, "and he's a queer one."

"Smith?" said Cameron. "The chap meets us everywhere. I must look him
up."

But there was a universal and insistent demand for "the pipes."

"You look him up, Mandy," cried her husband as he departed in response
to the call.

"I shall find him, and all about him," said Mandy with determination.

The next two hours were spent in dancing to Cameron's reels, in which
all, with more or less grace, took part till the piper declared he was
clean done.

"Let Macgregor have the pipes, Cameron," cried the Inspector. "He is
longing for a chance, I am sure, and you give us the Highland Fling."

"Come Moira," cried Cameron gaily, handing the pipes to Macgregor and,
taking his sister by the hand, he led her out into the intricacies of