d he procure either without alarming his aunt--an
extremity not to be considered. Jeff was a man of clumsy but forceful
expedients. He hung far out of the window, and with one powerful hand
lifted the shutter off its hinges and dragged it softly into No. 8. Then
as softly he crept upstairs to bed. The wind howled and tore round the
house; the crazy water-pipe below Jeff's window creaked, the chimneys
whistled, but the shutter banged no more. Jeff began to doze. "It's a
great thing to be strong," the wind seemed to say as it charged upon the
defenseless house, and then another voice seemed to reply, "A greater
thing to be strong and gentle;" and hearing this he fell asleep.

II.

It was not yet daylight when he awoke with an idea that brought him
hurriedly to his feet. Quickly dressing himself, he began to count the
money in his pocket. Apparently the total was not satisfactory, as he
endeavored to augment it by loose coins fished from the pockets of his
other garments, and from the corner of his washstand drawer. Then he
cautiously crept downstairs, seized his gun, and stole out of the still
sleeping house. The wind had gone down, the rain had ceased, a few stars
shone steadily in the north, and the shapeless bulk of the coach, its
lamps extinguished, loomed high and dry above the lessening water, in
the twilight. With a swinging tread Jeff strode up the hill and was soon
upon the highway and stage road. A half-hour's brisk walk brought him
to the summit, and the first rosy flashes of morning light. This enabled
him to knock over half-a-dozen early quail, lured by the proverb, who
were seeking their breakfast in the chaparral, and gave him courage to
continue on his mission, which his perplexed face and irresolute manner
had for the last few moments shown to be an embarrassing one. At last
the white fences and imposing outbuildings of the "Summit Hotel" rose
before him, and he uttered a deep sigh. There, basking in the first
rays of the morning sun, stood his successful rival! Jeff looked at the
well-built, comfortable structure, the commanding site, and the air of
serene independence that seemed to possess it, and no longer wondered
that the great world passed him by to linger and refresh itself there.

He was relieved to find the landlord was not present in person, and so
confided his business to the bar-keeper. At first it appeared that
that functionary declined interference, and with many head-shakings and
aud