r knew why then. I lack
an instinct all other fellows seem to have to hang together and boost
each other along. School seemed like such a silly affair to me; I
wouldn't learn. In business afterward it was worse.

"My brothers took me up one after another. They're all well-to-do. One
is president of an electric-light plant, one is a corporation lawyer,
the other runs a big store. Keen on business, all of them. I tried to
make good with each one, honest I did. But I sickened in offices. My
brain seemed to turn to mush. Impossible for me to get up any interest
in business.

"So I got passed along from one to another. Naturally, they thought I
was no good. I thought so, too. A dog's life! Their wives, that was
worse. All regular rich men's wives, crazy about society and all that,
and having things better than the neighbours. Do you understand what I
mean?"

"No," Bela confessed. "Some day I will. Don' stop. I lak hear it all."

"Well, me with my untidy clothes, I was a thorn in the side of those
ladies. Visibly turned up their noses when I came around. One day
after a big row with my eldest brother I just walked off. I've been
regularly up against it ever since. Just a year ago. Seems more like
ten. I've lived a thousand lives.

"You take a big baby like I was and throw him on the world--well, he
won't have to go to hell to find out what it's like! I've learned in
one year what most fellows take twenty to soak in. Now I'm beginning
to see light, to get solid ground under my feet. Of course, I haven't
got anything yet"--Sam smiled here--"but I know what I want."

"What you want?" asked Bela quickly.

"To live a natural life. I've found out that is what I was made for.
Anything all laid out and regular like school or business simply
floors me. I want a little piece of land of my own, all my own. I'll
build my own house on it and raise my own grub. I want to do what I
want without anybody else's say-so. That way I feel I can make good.
The idea is to build up something that you can see grow."

"All alone?" asked Bela with a casual air.

Sam's heart missed a beat, then overtook it.

"I like to be alone," he said quickly. "That's what I came up here
for. I have made up my mind to it. I don't get along well with
people."

Bela was silent.

CHAPTER IX

BELA'S ANSWER

From time to time Bela glanced narrowly at Sam through her lashes. He
presented a terrific problem to one of her inexperience. She found
t