the door to be fixed, and it took
Jake a full half hour to get it mended.

"There, I guess that will stand for a while," he commented, as he stood
back and viewed his work.

"I thought Pete was going to do it," Douglas remarked.

"Mebbe he would an' mebbe he wouldn't. But most likely he wouldn't.
Pete would have promised almost anything jist then. Anyway, the door's
fixed, an' I guess it's about time we were gittin' home."

Nell looked tired as they bade her good-night. Douglas knew what a
trying day it had been for her, and he admired her courage as she
smilingly held out her hand to each one of them.

"I can never thank you for your kindness," she told them. "It is hard
to tell what might have happened if you had not arrived when you did."

Douglas cherished the idea that Nell looked at him differently than she
did at his companions, and that the clasp of her hand was firmer, and
that she let it rest in his a second longer. He felt sure that he was
not mistaken, and it brought a thrill to his heart.

As the three men made their way through the night, Jake kept emitting
occasional exclamations, while Empty gurgled forth chuckles of delight.
Each was giving vent in his own way to his feelings over the events of
the night. Douglas said nothing, but walked silently by their side.
He was thinking over more serious matters in which Ben Stubbles loomed
large and ominous. He believed that the struggle between himself and
the Stubbles had now reached a crisis, and that he was in a fair way of
winning a victory over Ben, at least, if he advanced carefully.

It was past midnight by the time they reached home. Jake made Empty
come into the house.

"We're goin' to have something to eat," he told him, "an' I know you
always shine when there's any grub around."

Mrs. Jukes was in bed, but it did not take Jake long to light the
kitchen fire, boil some water, and prepare a pot of tea. This, with
bread and jam from the pantry, formed their midnight repast, and when
they were through Jake pushed back his chair and lighted his pipe.

"Great punkins!" he exclaimed, bringing his big fist down upon the
table with a bang. "I wouldn't a' missed that racket to-night fer
anything. I wonder what Ben'll think about it all now."

"Do you suppose the men will tell him?" Douglas asked.

"Sure. He knows all about it by now, I bet ye'r life. Most likely he
was not fer off, the skunk, watchin' the hull racket. I wish to
goo