ng
been prevailed upon by Ford to disappear.

Ford directed the distribution of the trippers arbitrarily, and was
amazed when the president acquiesced without protest. Mr. Colbrith, the
doctor's wife, and Penfield, were to go in the leading vehicle; Aunt
Hester Adair, Miss Van Bruce, and the doctor, in the second; and Ford
drove the single-seated third, with Miss Alicia for his companion.

"I think you must have taken Uncle Sidney unawares," said Alicia, when
the caravan was toiling at a slow footpace along the rough wagon road
paralleling the Horse Creek grade.

"You mean that he might have objected to your driver? You are a whole
lot safer with me than you would be with one of those livery-stable
helpers up ahead."

"Oh, no; I didn't mean just that. But you know he usually plans all the
little details himself, and--"

"And the fact that somebody else plans them is sufficient excuse for a
rearrangement. That is one of the penalties he pays for being the big
boss," laughed Ford. Since the yesterday was now safely yesterday, and
to-day was his own, there was no room for anything but pure joy.

"You are a 'big boss,' too, aren't you?" she said, matching his
light-hearted mood.

"I was, in a way, until your uncle came over and eclipsed me."

"And you will be again when Uncle Sidney moves a little farther along in
his orbit."

"That remains to be seen. There is yet plenty of time for him to abolish
me, permanently, before he goes on his way rejoicing."

"But you are not going to resign, you know," she reminded him.

"Am I not?" Then he took his courage by the proper grip and went on with
sudden gravity: "That rests entirely with you."

"Mr. Ford! Aren't you a little unfair?" She did not pretend to
misunderstand him.

"I am open to convincement," he affirmed.

"It is making me Uncle Sidney's executioner, on one hand; or yours, on
the other."

He pressed the point relentlessly.

"There are only two horns to the dilemma: either Mr. Colbrith, or a man
named Stuart Ford, will have to walk the official plank. Because Mr.
Colbrith is your relative, I'm willing to be the victim. But you must
say that it is what you wish. That is my price."

"I say it is unfair," she repeated. "Why should you put the burden of
the decision upon poor me?"

"Because, if you were not concerned, there would be, to put it in good
Hibernian, only one horn to the dilemma--and your uncle would be impaled
upon that one."

"Mercy!" s