had no definite understanding of. With the wrecking of her
love for her husband it had been salved and safely anchored elsewhere.
And Jim was the man who had--anchored it.

However, she wisely refrained from revealing her discovery. She was
delighted, sentimentally, foolishly delighted, but unhesitatingly
continued with the purpose of her coming.

"Yes, dear," she agreed, nodding her pretty head sagely. "And so do I.
But we've sure got to think of Jim Thorpe. And--and that's why I came
along. Gay knows why I came, too. You know how queer Gay is 'bout some
things. He said to me, 'You best get along. Y'see, I got Jim down fer
buryin' proper when his time comes, an' I don't figger to get fooled
by any low-down hanging.' That's what Gay said, an' I didn't think it
quite elegant of him at the time. But there," with a sigh, "men are
curious folk 'bout things. Still," she bustled on alertly, "we got to
give him warning. We got to make him keep away for a while anyway. He
hasn't been seen in the village since, and there's folks say we ain't
likely to see him again. I--I almost hope they're right, for his sake.
It won't never do for him to come along--true--true it won't."

The girl's earnestness and alarm were reflected in Eve's face. She saw
the necessity, the emergency. But how--how to get word to him? That
was the difficulty. How? Neither of them knew where he was, and
certainly none of the villagers did.

Eve shook her head desperately.

"I--I don't seem to be able to think," she said piteously. "I've done
so much thinking, and--and scheming, that my head feels silly, and
I--I--don't know what to suggest."

But Annie was paying only slight attention. Now her round eyes
suddenly brightened.

"I've got it," she cried. "There's--there's Peter Blunt. He's sure to
know where Jim is, or be able to find him. Yes, and there's your
Elia--if Peter fails."

But Eve shook her head at the latter suggestion.

"Peter, yes. He'll help us, surely. But we must not think of Elia.
He's--he's too--delicate."

"Then it's Peter," cried Annie, impulsively. "Now I'll tell you what
we'll do. I'll find Peter some time to-day, and--and tell him to come
along and see you to-night, after dark. You see," she added naively,
"he best not be seen visitin' you in daylight. Then you can tell him
all I've told you, and he'll sure know the best to do. He likes Jim."

"Yes, yes," agreed Eve, brightening visibly and catching something of
Annie's co