it?"

"Yes, sir. And then I knew it was yours when he had it there in the
field. I saw the silver name thing on the handle. It kind of shined in
the sun."

"Um-hm. Yes, yes. I see. You knew it, of course. But you didn't tell me.
Why on earth didn't you? Didn't you know that if I'd realized that swab
had borrered my gun to kill my cat that would have been enough? If the
critter had stole a million chickens 'twouldn't have made any difference
if I'd known THAT. The cheeky lubber! Well, he won't shoot at anything
of ours for one spell, I'll bet. But why didn't you tell me?"

Mary-'Gusta's answer was promptly given.

"Why, 'cause," she said, "that was just it. I knew if you knew that you
wouldn't care whether David stole the chicken or not. And I wanted you
to know he didn't."

"Um, I see. But if you had told me you wouldn't have had to tell about
the parlor. I'D never asked a single question."

"Ye-yes, sir; but I wanted you to know David doesn't steal chickens."

Shadrach swallowed hard. "I see," he said. "Yes, yes, I see. So just to
clear that cat you was willin' to give up the picnic and everything."

Mary-'Gusta sobbed: "I--I did want to go so," she moaned.

The Captain lifted her from the pillow and put his arm about her.

"You ARE goin'," he declared, emphatically, "you just bet you're goin'."

"Oh! Oh, am I? Am I really? I--I know I hadn't ought to. I was a bad
girl."

"You! You're a dummed good girl! The best and squarest--yes, and the
spunkiest little girl I ever saw. You're a brick."

"I'm awful sorry I went into the parlor, Cap'n Gould."

"Blast the parlor! I don't care if you stay in there a week and smash
everything in it. And--and, see here, Mary-'Gusta, don't you call me
'Cap'n Gould' any more. Call me 'Uncle Shad,' will you?"

Just before bedtime that night Mr. Hamilton broached a subject which had
troubled him all day.

"Shadrach," he said, timidly. "I--I guess I ought to tell you somethin'.
I know you won't want to talk about it, but seems 's if I must tell you.
I had a letter this morning from Judge Baxter. He says he can't wait
much longer for an answer from us about Marcellus's girl. He's got to
know what we've decided to do with her."

Shadrach, who was smoking, took his pipe from his mouth.

"Well, give him the answer then," he said, shortly. "You know what 'tis,
well as I do."

Zoeth looked troubled.

"I know you don't want to keep her," he said, "but--"

"Who said I didn