ashion, while he had to eke out a precarious living by hoeing
potatoes. Dick's father had made his money in an unscrupulous manner,
and was held up as a shrewd business man. Would it not be as well for
him to hurl himself into the game and win out, no matter how?

Thinking thus, he came near his cabin, when a light arrested his
attention. He stopped short in his tracks and peered through the
darkness. At first he believed that he must be mistaken. But no, it
shone steadily before him, and he knew that some one was there. The
thought made him angry, and he hurried forward, determined to make an
example of the one who had dared to meddle with his property.

Reaching the building, he peered cautiously through the uncurtained
window. As he did so, his anger suddenly ceased when he beheld the
pathetic scene within, of an old man lying asleep upon the couch and a
young girl patiently watching by his side. Why they were there he did
not know, though he felt certain that great necessity must have driven
them to take refuge in a strange cabin. He recognised old David as the
man he had met that night on the road listening to the voice of Break
Neck Falls. He knew that he had been sold to Jim Goban for one year,
and the transaction had rankled in his soul for days. The girl he did
not know, but she seemed to him like a ministering angel watching over
the slumber of the sleeping man. This thought caused him to study her
more intently, for notwithstanding his strength and independence of
mind, he could not forget the pictures he had seen and the stories he
had heard as a child of angels coming to earth on special deeds of
mercy. He banished this idea, however, in an instant, and even smiled
at his own foolishness as he turned away from the window and moved
around the corner of the cabin.

He was about to push open the door and enter when a sudden notion came
into his mind which caused him to pause. He stood there with the rain
beating upon him as he thought over the idea. Then he stepped toward
the door and gave a gentle tap. In a few seconds Betty stood before
him, peering into the darkness. The sight of the large man standing
there caused her to start and draw somewhat back.

"Excuse me," Jasper began, "but could you give me shelter? It is a
rough night and I am wet and hungry. I am sorry to disturb you, but I
saw the light from the road and knew that some one was living here."

"Come in," the girl at once r