chair. As for Jim Bell, he was happy
enough to "dance a jig," he said.

"I'll play for you, sir," volunteered Jimsy, going toward the piano.

"No, no," laughed Jim Bell; "I'm too old for that now. But not too old
for Peter and I to have many happy days together yet, eh, Peter?"

He turned tenderly toward the old man whose eyes grew dim and moist.

"I wish dad and mother could see us now," he said, sadly, as his thoughts
wandered back over the long bitter years he had spent in solitude.

"Perhaps they can," breathed Peggy, softly; "let us hope so."

"Thank you," said the old hermit, with a sigh.

But the conversation soon turned to a merrier vein. And then it drifted
into business. Mr. Bancroft happened to stop in on his way into town and
after a long talk with Jim Bell he seriously advised Roy to accept the
mining man's proposal.

"I'll put you up a factory any place you say," said the millionaire, "and
you can turn out all that we require. I've a notion, too, that they might
be used as general freight carriers over arid stretches of country where
there are no railroads, and feed and water for stock is scarce."

"Not a doubt of it," said Mr. Bancroft.

Before he left the preliminary papers had been drawn up and signed, and
Roy Prescott found himself fairly launched in business. But in all this
success he did not forget how much he owed to Peggy. Recent events had
softened the boy's character and reduced his conceit wonderfully.

"I owe it all to you, little sis," he said that evening.

"I don't know about all," cried Jimsy, who was present; "but you do owe a
whole lot to her, old man, and I'm glad to see you acknowledge it at
last."

"I always have," cried Roy, turning rather red, though.

"Hum," commented Jimsy; "I'm not so sure about that."

But Peggy put her hand over his mouth and it took Jimsy what seemed an
unduly long time to remove it. As for Jess, she stalwartly declared that
if it hadn't been for Peggy there would have been no Golden Butterfly, no
five thousand dollar prize, and, as she said, "no nothing." But to this
loyal little Peggy would not assent. In her eyes Roy would always remain
the most wonderful brother in the world.

Soon after this Jimsy and Jess took their leave and it was not long
before the last light was extinguished in the happy little household and
deep silence reigned. About midnight, as nearly as she could judge, Peggy
awoke to find the moonlight streaming into her room