And you will come and have tea with us?" Lois asked.

"Yes, if I shall not be in the way. It will be a great change for me."

"We shall be delighted to have you, and I know my father will be
pleased to see you, for he gets so lonely at times. He is sitting up
now, and likes to have some one to talk to. He has changed a great
deal since his illness."

By this time Steve had finished setting his snare, and then they all
started homeward. It was quite an event to have a visitor, so Dora and
Steve rushed on ahead to tell their mother to set an extra place "fer
company." Lois and Jasper had no inclination to hurry. Their hearts
were happy in each other's company, and they walked slowly along the
trail not talking about anything in particular, and laughing when there
was really nothing to laugh about.

Mr. Sinclair was sitting in a big, cosy chair before the fire as Lois
and Jasper entered the room. Notwithstanding the change that had come
over him and his desire for conversation, he looked upon his visitor
with a reserved suspicion.

"You belong to that new company, eh?" he questioned.

"Only as an employee," Jasper replied. "I am merely working for wages."

"H'm, is that so? I thought you had an interest in the concern."

"In a way I have. I am interested in getting out as many logs and
poles as I can this winter. But apart from that I am nothing as far as
the company goes."

"But you know all about their plans, I suppose, and what they intend to
do?"

"Oh, yes, I naturally understand that they intend to supply light and
power to the city and the surrounding country, but further than that I
know nothing."

"Don't you know who compose the company?"

"No, I have not the least idea."

"Well, that's queer," and Sinclair shifted uneasily in his chair.
"Perhaps you can tell me, though, where Crazy David comes in? He seems
to be somewhat connected with the whole affair."

"He supplied the plans, so I believe. They paid him, and made him
Honorary President of the company."

"And so that's all you know about it?"

"Certainly. The whole affair is as much of a mystery to me as it is to
you."

"Confound it all!" and Sinclair stamped his right foot upon the floor.
"I'd like to know what's coming over people, anyway. Things are
getting so mysterious these days that I'm about crazy trying to puzzle
matters out."

"Don't try, father, dear," Lois soothed, placing her arms about his
neck. "You must not