ans."

"Yes, but if you ain't goin' to do nothing, I am!"

His nephew wouldn't trust himself to hear another word. He turned on his
heel and left the old man.

Uncle Henry was shaking with excitement. He lifted his hand, smote the arm
of his chair, and cried out after the vanishing figure of his nephew, "You
make me sick, you gol darn fool!" He was almost in tears. "Gol darn the gol
darn luck, anyhow!"

At that moment, Lucia Pell came down the little stairway. She had discarded
her riding-habit, and now looked equally lovely in a simple frock of blue.

"What's the matter?" she inquired, seeing at once that something was
troubling Uncle Henry.

"What _ain't_ the matter?" the old fellow screamed, but glad of someone to
whom he could unburden his overflowing heart. "Gol darn it! By gollies! I
got it again!" he cried, seized with another inspiration. He eyed the
radiant Lucia, as a miser might appraise a new gold coin. "Mis' Pell," he
said, twirling his chair so that he caught a better glimpse of her.

"Yes?" she said, half-way down.

"You and Gil's old friends, ain't you?" The question was as direct as
anything could be.

"Yes," was the equally direct answer.

"Want to do him a good turn?" asked the scheming old man.

"Of course. What do you mean?" She was at his side now.

"He's got a chance to make a swell marriage," announced Uncle Henry.

"What?" There was a curious catch in Lucia's voice.

"A rich marriage," Uncle Henry went on, almost smacking his lips over the
words.

Lucia went over to the window, so that she would not face the invalid.

"Not as rich as yourn, of course," Uncle Henry pursued; "but rich for
him--and he won't do it." He waited for her to say something; but she did
not speak. There was a pause. Lucia looked out at the baking valley, and
off to the far mountains, and the ticking of the clock could be heard like
steady rain in a cistern. Then she went over to the table near the alcove,
where a few books were scattered about. She opened one, and pretended to
read. All the time Uncle Henry's eyes never left her. And she knew he was
searching her thoughts.

"He won't?" she finally said.

"No--the gol darn fool!" the old fellow screamed again.

"Does he--does he love her?" Lucia brought herself to ask.

Quick as a flash Uncle Henry came back: "Sure he does! It's the only thing
for him to do. He ain't got no right to be livin' alone. All he don't get
skinned out of he gives away. Neve