yes filled with tears
as she listened; often she smiled understandingly at his quaint
confessions. Presently she asked:

"Hiram, have you any ambition for an education?"

"Yes," he told her. "I've always wanted that, I guess. That's why I
read so much, I s'pose. But there wasn't much chance up there. I
learned all they could teach me at school--learned it easy. But there
wasn't any chance to go farther."

"You've that chance now," she told him softly.

"Do you mean----" He stopped, his lips parted as he gazed into her
eyes.

"Just that," she said. "I'll help you. We'll study together. Right
here in my wagon. Your blacks will jog along without you over many
stretches in the road from Julia to the camps. Through the mountains,
of course, we shall have to be at the jerklines constantly. We'll be
four days traveling between Julia and the camps, loaded, and between
two and three days returning empty. Only one day of the trip going
will be over a mountain road. The rest of the time you may ride with
me and fight for your education. I'll help you."

"Miss Jo----" There was a lump in Hiram's throat.

"Just Jo, please. No one ever troubles to call me miss, and I don't
want them to."

"I'll do it, then, Jo," said Hiram huskily. "I never dreamed I'd ever
have such a chance. And I'll work, too--I'll study night and day. But
why--why are you doin' this for me?"

Slowly the rich color mounted to the cheeks Jerkline Jo. "I--I know
how it is," she said. "I was raised in a gypo camp, and had no chance
until late in my teens. Knew nothing but mules and horses until I was
eighteen or over--cared for nothing else. And I love them still; but
I've grown ambitious to get all that I can from life. I like you,
Hiram Hooker. You're a big, clean-minded, simple-souled man. I'll
help you all I can."

Hiram's experience with Lucy Dalles, and now with this splendid girl
called Jerkline Jo, might have turned the head of a more sophisticated
male. But the big woods of the North teach a man his insignificance in
the scheme of life, teach him honesty and simplicity of heart and
sincerity. So now Hiram Hooker's ego was not inflamed. He had no idea
of his appeal to the other sex. Few women could help admiring such a
handsome young giant as was Hiram, strong as a bull, symmetrical as
some sturdy plant; and his drawling, soft voice was a caress that
bespoke the kindly heart of a child and the tenderness of a woman