ooked at me
an' scowled; but after a minute he answered: 'I don't know how wise the
man is. P'r'aps he isn't a fool; but even wise men is foolish
sometimes.'

"Well, Josie, that was all, just then. Ned went with his wife Ann to
the city, nex' day, an' things here went on as usual. Only, Gran'dad
begun to git wakeful nights, an' couldn't sleep. He'd git up an' dress
an' go outdoors an' walk aroun' till mornin'. He didn't say noth'n' to
_me_ about it, but I watched him, an' one mornin' when he come in I
says: 'Why don't ye git some medicine o' Doc Jenkins to make ye sleep?'
Then he busts out an' grabs me by the throat an' near choked the life
out or me.

"'Ye spy--ye dirty little spy!' says he, 'ye keep yer eyes shut an' yer
mouth shut, or I'll skin-ye alive!' says he.

"The way he looked at me, I was skeered stiff, an' I never said noth'n'
more 'bout his sleepin' nights. I guess what made him mad was my sayin'
he orter hev a doctor, 'cause doctors cost money an' Gran'dad's so poor
he hates t' spend money unnecessary."

"Did he ever again try to choke you?"

"He tried once more, but I was too spry for him. It was a winter night,
when it was cold in his room an' he come inter the kitchen, where there
was a fire, to write. I sot behind the stove, tryin' to keep warm, an'
after a time I seen him look up an' glare at the bare wall a long time.
By-'n'-by he says in a low voice: 'Fer the Cause!' an' starts writin'
ag'in. 'What cause are ye talkin' about, Gran'dad?' says I.

"I guess he'd fergot I was there, but now he gives a yell an' jumps up
an' comes for me with his fingers twistin' and workin' like I'd seen
'em afore. I didn't wait fer him to git near me, you kin bet; I made a
dive out the back door an' stood aroun' in the cold tryin' to keep warm
while I give him time to cool off where the fire was. When he was
writin' ag'in I sneaked in an' he didn't notice me. When Marm was here
she used to josh him about the 'Cause,' an' once I heard her tell him
she guessed the Cause was hoardin' his money so's to starve his family.
Marm wasn't afraid of him, but I am, so I never whisper the word
'Cause' while he's around."

Josie sat in silent reflection for a time. Then she asked softly:

"Does he still walk at night, Ingua?"

"Sometimes. Not so much as he once did, though. He seems to take
streaks o' bein' wakeful," explained the girl.

"Have you ever seen him come out, or go in?"

"Lots o' times. When it's moonlight I