m-bound prisoner
inside.

"Thank heaven!" breathed she, and sprang to her feet. She was midway in
the room when the door opened, and, as if flayed forward by the lashing
storm, Jerry-Jo broke into the shadow and drew the heavy oak door after
him. In a black panic of fear Priscilla saw him turn the key in the lock
before he spoke a word to her; then he came forward, flung his wet cap
toward the hearth, and laughed.

"What's the matter?" he asked quickly as Priscilla's white face
confronted him. "Disappointed, I suppose. Do you begrudge me a bit of
warmth and shelter? God knows I'm drenched to the bone. The rain came up
from the earth as well as down from the clouds. It's a devil's storm and
no mistake. What you staring at, Priscilla? Had you forgotten me? Thought
me dead, and now you're looking at my ghost? Didn't I wait long enough
for you? Where are the--others?"

This seemed to clarify and steady the situation and Priscilla gave a
slight laugh:

"To be sure. You did not know. They--they were away. The storm came up
suddenly. I had to wait. You are wet through and through, Jerry-Jo. It's
good we have such a fire. You'll be comfortable in a moment. I'm glad you
came; I was getting--afraid."

"Let's see if there is any oil in the lamp!" Jerry-Jo exclaimed. He was
in no mood for darkness himself.

"They must have filled it before they went," Priscilla answered. "See,
there is some oil on the table."

McAlpin struck a match and soon the room was flooded with a new
brightness that reached even to the far corners and seemed to set free
the real loneliness that held these two together.

"I--I managed to keep this dry," McAlpin spoke huskily. "I always have
a bite with me when I take to the woods. Who can ever tell what may
happen!"

He pushed a coarse sandwich toward Priscilla and began eating one
himself.

"Go on!" he said.

"I'm not hungry, Jerry-Jo, and I want to start back home at once."

Jerry-Jo leered at her over his bread and meat.

"What's your hurry? I want to get warm and dry before I set out again.
This is an all-nighter of a storm, if I know anything about it."

"Get dry, of course, Jerry-Jo. It won't take long with this heat; then we
must start, storm or no storm."

The old discomfort and unrest returned, and she fixed her eyes on
Jerry-Jo.

"There's no great hurry," said he, munching away. "It's warm here and
cozy. What's got you, Priscilla? You was mighty keen to come, and you
ain't fini