grist that was brought to him. Standing on a commanding knoll beside the Lumano River, it was very pictur

y, red-faced man, who was forever thinking of some surprise with which to please his boy and girl, and seldom refused any request they might make of him. This plan of takin

urst into the kitchen in a jolly wa

the grove of airing garments around the stove. "Tom been in the r

d Helen. "It's

mself appeared

river when the ice was four inches

her, of the adventure with the bull and th

rt in extricating you all from the mess, too, I'll be bound! Whatever would

t that the old bull bunted the hollow stump into the creek. So th

e? Where does

on the stencil on the

her?" cried Helen. "Ri

rbo

is his," mutter

uth, quickly. "Do you think he is a b

Ruth Fielding. I have no suspicion regarding the lad--How is the patient, Aunt Alviry?" he add

ly enough, too. "He's getting on fine," she declared. "He'll be all right soon. I reckon he won't suff

s Aunt Alviry," although she really had no living kin, and Mr. Jabez Potter had b

answer to Mr. Cameron's question. "Ain't the f

Potter slept in a big, four-post bedstead, which was heaped high at this time of year with an enormous feather bed. Rolled like a mummy in the blankets, and laid on this bed, the feathers had plump

on, in his jolly way. "So your name i

name, sir," returned the boy in

started up in bed, and the pale blue eyes flashed with an entirel

you find

k his head knowi

id you carry your father's old wallet about with you, if you did not wish t

his head from side to side. The blood receded from his c

an a

pposed," said Mr. Came

n't tel

did yo

ust got sick of it up there, and

ead?" asked the g

s,

a mot

s,

t she n

, s

y n

all older'n me. Then there's the two gals and Bob, who are y

he didn't sorely miss the one who was absent," declared Mr

pers. He admitted that he had been some weeks on the road. His being in that hollow stump in Hiram Bassett's field was quite by accident. He was

one?" demanded Mr. Cameron, at this point. "D

now," stamme

is questioner was ab

to Mr. Potter," said Mr. Cameron. "And in the

d! we're

when his father warned h

eerfully. "Aunt Alviry and Ruth will look after you

tle old woman hobbled in with a steaming bowl. His

quare meal would be your best medicine, I'

me moments; when he returned he called Helen

dy as early as nine

k as she climbed i

en. Aunt Alvirah was still in the bedroom with their strange guest. Of a sudden th

found it dry, and went to the window to replace the clipping in it. It was the most natural thing in the world for Ruth to glance at the slip

with breathless attention. Her rosy face paled as she came to the conclusion, an

ck. She did not dare face the old woman when she appeared, but kept her back turned until she was sure the col