ions and nab him.
Not a minute too soon, either. He had nearly choked the life out of his
accuser."

"How is Murfree, Mr. Dalton?"

"Pretty well used up. I never saw him so completely cowed. It knocked
all the eloquence out of him for once. The man is a crank and an
agitator. I have kept my eye on him for some time. He is a fairly good
workman in his line, though, and just now can't do much harm, as times
are easy and these new improvements of yours keep the people busy with
other interests. But he would stir them all up, if he could."

"And the other--Lozcoski--is he in prison again?"

"No, he was hurt, too. He is in the jail hospital. What with his
starving and all, he is quite ill. There is some legal hitch, too, about
his re-commitment, and you and I are to be summoned to testify as to
various matters concerning the Works. It will necessitate a journey into
town. And shall I plan to go with you?" He was quite the business
manager again.

"Certainly, if you will be so kind."

"I would advise taking Mr. Barrington with us to the jail. He can coach
us as to details."

"Yes," said Joyce thoughtfully. "And we must try and get at the bottom
of the affair this time. Must you go now?" for he had risen with a
resolute air.

"Indeed I must. I don't know when I have spent such a lazy--and
happy--morning!"

"Next time we'll have to banish naughty Dodo. Isn't she a persistent
baby?"

"A very charming one, though. Good-morning!"

He made her a stiff little bow, and hurried away without so much as one
look behind him. But as he passed the next house, and heard a voice near
some upper window crooning a lullaby, he smiled to himself, and
whispered,

"Blessed little Dodo! Sweet sleep and happy dreams."

CHAPTER XVIII.

NATE TIERNEY.

The heated spell was succeeded by a week of chilling rains. These made
the children appreciate the arcade leading from the park to the
school-house, and one afternoon they were romping up and down its cement
roadway, just after school was out. Even Mrs. Hemphill's younger brood
was there, for the delight of the youngsters in their classes, which
embraced lessons in carpentry, husbandry, electrical science, cookery,
sewing, nursing, and so on, had so infected them that they simply could
not be kept at home.

Joyce's school, planned to the least detail, under the Madame's
instruction, was not quite like any other known. Text-books were used,
to be sure, and classes were, in