thing to do, don't it?"

Mrs. Hobbs interrupted.

"You don't need to go at all," she declared. "I'll get her and bring her
here. Perhaps she ain't there, anyway."

"Well, if she ain't there we can come back again. Come on, boys."

He led the way to the door. The housekeeper would have accompanied them,
but he prevented her doing so.

"Don't you trouble yourself, ma'am," he said. "We'll find her. I'm
older'n I used to be, but I ain't so blind but what I can locate a barn
without a spyglass."

"It won't be any trouble," protested the lady.

"I know, but it might be. We'll go alone."

When the three were in the back yard, and the discomfited housekeeper
was watching them from the door, he added:

"I don't know why that woman rubs my fur the wrong way, but she does.
Isaiah Chase says he don't like mosquitoes 'cause they get on his
nerves. I never thought I wore my nerves on the back of my neck, which
is where Isaiah gets skeeter-bit mostly, but anyhow, wherever they be,
that Hobbs woman bothers 'em. There's the barn, ain't it? Don't look
very heavenly, but it may seem that way after a spell in t'other place.
Now where's the carriage room?"

The door of the carriage room was open, and they entered. A buggy and
the muslin draped surrey were there, but no living creature was in
sight. They listened, but heard nothing.

"Mary! Mary-'Gusta!" called Baxter. "Are you here?"

No answer. And then, from beneath the cover of the surrey, appeared
a fat tortoise-shell cat, who jumped lightly to the floor, yawned,
stretched, and blinked suspiciously at the visitors.

"Humph!" grunted Captain Shadrach. "There's one stowaway, anyhow. Maybe
there's another; I've had 'em come aboard in pairs."

The Judge walked over to the surrey, and raised the cover. From behind
it came a frightened little squeal.

"Oh, there you are!" said Baxter. "Mary-'Gusta, is that you?"

There was a rustle, a sob, and then a timid voice said, chokingly, "Yes,
sir."

"Come out," said the Judge, kindly. "Come out; here are some friends who
want to meet you."

Another sob and then: "I--I don't want to."

"Oh, yes, you do. We won't hurt you. We only want to see you and talk
with you, that's all. Come, that's a good girl."

"I--I ain't a good girl."

"Never mind. We want to see you, anyway. I guess you're not very bad."

"Yes, I--I am. Is--is Mrs. Hobbs there?"

"No. Come now, please."

A moment's wait, then, from beneath the cover, appeared