voice," the old lady said, as she came close

ill, old as she seemed to be, she walked alertly, with the swinging grace of the true mountain woman. She was very plainly dressed in a one-piece gown of dark c

p as he greeted the old lady, "we didn't expect t

ite a bit down the slope is where I live. I wanted to know what the

"If you care to come up to our camp we'll be glad

p here in the mountains-not very often. We don't have the money to pay for

ondered how long she had lived there, and if she lived alone. She did not

h my husband, Michael Brady, to live in peace. Mike was a good man when he was himself, but the sa

me," Ned said, for want of something better,

ine! I didn't know about the moonshine when we came here. All I thought of was

tory. The poor old woman living there, probably alon

he asked. "Why didn't

him to get the thirst! After Mike died I lived here to keep him in the good pa

eft you?"

though I've always kept a home for him, and never ceased to look for him. He writes me now and the

ys and made comfortable by the fire, with tea and canned fruit before her.

way of keeping the conversation going. "Did he write f

e would be here with friends in June. I thought he might be with you. He ha

hild here?" asked Ned, glancing significantly

re. It is only a mite of a boy-not more than seve

very word that was spoken. One brought her more tea and the other fil

m to drop down on you

the lad's name is Mike, too. I'm anxious for him to get here. And I'm wondering whether he's ligh

of it?" Jack whi

of what?" dema

her three Mikes?" rep

en asleep al

declared. "Do you think it possible that they would ch

d Jack. "Do you really think we've tumbl

itating reply. "We'll have

e th

er, directly. "We ought to verify her story, i

ut Mike II. having blonde hair and

take notice. It brought back to my memory the lig

has a cicatrice on the right thumb and a scar on the head, a scar which might have been

ince being called Mi

ay it was a c

didn't dispute me when I asked if it w

aid, changing the subject, "we'll have to start

en they get hungry!

ared to delight in the companionship of the boys. Having lived alone for years, she would have been delighted at any companionship

summit of the range to the east she arose

how much it has been to me to sit here and talk with you! If you'll

going right now? Of course I've got to see you h

ay for more than twenty years," faltered

ect to my goin

the reply. "But you'll find it a lo

d laughed, "you may give me a bunk on the

ckoned to Frank to ste

"but one can never tell. We've got to be pretty careful, for we are in a strange country, and are

old lady?" asked F

tory about a son being about to bring in a boy of seven for her to mother! Then, as if that wasn't enough of a bait for us t

o I wouldn't go off alone with her. And, look here," Frank went on, "do you believe Uncle Ike would hav

sed to women. Still, she may have had some one with her! I was thi

I wouldn't go away a

with you if you

tell you what you may do. You can wait until I have gone some distance and then follow on behind, not so

ght be following the two of you! I wish Jimmie was here! He'd be just the o

wered. "I'm going to keep a sharp looko

ke this. And without supper, too! Jimmie is particular to be on hand when it comes to eating time.

nk by the arm. "Don't even look in t

her figure was straight, tense, alert. She appeared to be listening and watching

e drew back in a moment and stood, waiting, with her eyes on the