?"

"I am his daughter," said Grace simply, "and he has been looking all
over for you. He has had trouble about a lumber tract and he thinks you
could straighten it out for him, and prove his claim. Are you really
that Paddy Malone?"

"I am," said the man humbly, "and this is a judgment on me--a judgment
on me! To think that James Ford's daughter should help me. Well, well!
Yes, I am that Paddy Malone," he went on in louder tones, "and I can
prove your father's claim. I'm through with that Jallow crowd, now.
Through with 'em! Get a doctor, girls, if you can, and I'll tell
everything when I'm fixed up. I'll prove James Ford's lumber claim for
him, and show those swindlers that they can't fool Paddy Malone! I'll
show 'em!"

He sank back on his pillow exhausted, while Betty made haste to bring
more coffee.

CHAPTER XXIII

REVELATIONS

"And to think that we found Paddy Malone!" exclaimed Mollie.

"Yes, but he first found us--only we didn't know it," answered Grace.

They were gliding along on their snowshoes from the lonely cabin where
they discovered the injured lumberman. Betty and Amy had volunteered to
stay while the other girls went for the nearest doctor. There was one
living half-way between the winter camp and the town.

"Papa will be so glad!" Grace went on. "I must telegraph to him right
away."

"One of the boys can take in the message," suggested Mollie. "Then we
can go back and hear the rest of the story. It sounds, from what Paddy
Malone said, as if that Mr. Jallow had been up to some unfair tricks."

"I shouldn't wonder," agreed Grace. "Oh, what a lot of things have
happened up here!"

"And more are going to, if I'm any judge. Your father will get his
timber land back."

"Oh, how glad I'll be!"

The girls hurried on, hoping they would find the boys in their cabin.
There was some doubt of this, but they were reasonably certain of
locating Mr. Franklin, who would go for a doctor for the injured man.

The boys had not yet returned, but Mrs. Franklin, who listened with
wonder to the story Grace and Mollie pantingly told, informed them where
they could locate her husband not far off in the woods.

He was using a light sled to haul firewood, and at once set off for the
doctor, whom he brought back with him in due time.

Then, in a larger sled, in which it was planned to bring back Paddy
Malone to the boy's cabin, where it would easier to nurse him, Mr.
Franklin, Mollie, Grace and the p