e to do that. You mean a guide, I
suppose?"

He nodded.

"May I ask your name?"

"John Collins."

"Do you live here?" she asked, curious to know more about the man, whom
she began to distrust.

"Not now. I live over in the next village. I was in town and heard
that you folks wanted a guide. I know more about the White Mountains
than any other man in the State of New Hampshire. I can show you more,
and take better care of your party, than anybody else you could find."

"Do you know Janus Grubb?"

"Ye--yes," Collins twisted uneasily, "I know him."

"He is to be our guide. The arrangements were made some time ago by
the father of one of our young women. Mr. Grubb starts with us
tomorrow morning, unless there should be some change in the
arrangements."

"I'm sorry, Miss."

"I'm sorry, too, since you have been so kind as to offer your
services," replied the guardian politely.

"I didn't just mean it that way, Miss. I meant about Janus."

"How so?"

"I don't just like to say. Yes, I will, too. Do you know anything
about Jan Grubb?"

"No," admitted Miss Elting.

"Then you'd better ask. I am afraid you are putting too much
confidence in him."

"Mr. Collins, please be more explicit. What do you mean?"

"You'll find out after you've got out into the hills. He doesn't know
any more about the hills than a little yellow dog that's spent all its
life in town. He'll get you into all kinds of trouble, and then he'll
leave you to get out of it as best you can. You remember what I tell
you."

"Of course, I thank you for telling me," answered the guardian rather
stiffly. "However, we are quite satisfied with Mr. Grubb. As I
understand it, he is a highly respected citizen of Compton and an
efficient mountain guide. That will be quite sufficient for us."

"I need this job. I--I need the money, Miss," whined the stranger.

"I am satisfied with the arrangements I have already made." Miss Elting
turned to leave the room.

"My family needs it. I've been out of work a long time, and----"

"I am very sorry. I wish it were in my power to assist you, but I have
very little voice in the matter. Another person--the one who is paying
the expenses of this trip--attended to all that. You will see that it
is quite useless to plead, deep as my sympathy is for you."

The man rose and eyed her with an expression that was particularly
unpleasant to behold. Miss Elting returned her strange visitor's gaze