excited witness. She was delighted at the thought of David's freedom,
and when Jim at last agreed to part with him she could hardly repress a
cry of joy. It took her but a second to make up her mind, and she was
ready when Jim spoke to her.

"I'm not going with you," she told him.

"Not goin'! Why, what d'ye mean?" and Jim looked his astonishment.

"I'm going to stay with Mr. David. He needs me more than you do. I'm
going to take him to my own home. He will be happy there and treated
like a gentleman."

"Ho, ho! so that's the game, eh? Treat him like a gentleman! Well, do
as ye like; it's nothin' to me, so I'm off."

They watched him as he strode across the field, unhitched his horse and
drove away.

"There, we're rid of him at last," and Jasper gave a sigh of relief.

"Isn't it great!" Betty exclaimed turning to David. "To think that you
are going home with me!"

But the old man was looking at Jasper and did not hear the girl's cry
of delight. In his eyes was an expression of gratitude. He tried to
speak but words failed him, and tears flowed down his cheeks. Jasper
was visibly moved, and turned suddenly to Betty.

"You are willing to keep him for awhile?" he asked.

"Yes. Mother will be so pleased to have him, and I will work hard to
help her."

"Where will you work? At Jim Goban's?"

"No, I am through there. But I will get work somewhere. I will talk
it over with mother. I think we had better be going now."

Thrusting his hand into his pocket Jasper brought forth several bills.

"Take these," he said, "they are all I can give you now, but you shall
have more later."

"But you need the money yourself," the girl replied.

"Not as much as you will need it. So say nothing more about it.
Good-bye. I hope to see you again."

Jasper watched the two as they moved slowly across the field and then
disappeared down the road. He felt lonely when they were gone, and he
sat for some time in front of the cabin lost in thought. At times he
called himself a fool for what he had done. Why should he be burdened
with that old man when he could hardly make his own living? And
besides, he had no work to do, and had given away his last dollar. But
notwithstanding all this, a secret feeling of satisfaction stole into
his heart that he had helped old David and had taken him out of Jim
Goban's clutches.

As he sat there the bell of the nearby church rang forth, and he
realised for the first tim