"Electrical engineering."

"I see. But was there not something you could have obtained along that
line? Surely there must have been some opening."

Jasper made no reply. There was a reason, but he did not feel inclined
to reveal his secret to a complete stranger, upon such a brief
acquaintance.

CHAPTER VIII

THE SHADOW OF MYSTERY

When supper was over, the stranger lighted a cigar and stretched
himself out upon the cot.

"This is certainly comfort," he remarked, as he watched Jasper clear
away the dishes. "It is fortunate that we have found such hospitality.
You do not have many such visitors, I suppose. It must be rather
lonely for you here."

"Not as a rule, though I have been much favoured lately," Jasper
replied with a laugh, and he told how his cabin had been taken
possession of the previous night.

"Well, that was cool, I should say," and the stranger smiled. "Walked
right in, did they?"

"But I didn't mind, for they were such a queer couple; a feeble old
man, and a bright, smart girl of about sixteen. It was nice for me to
have them here on such a stormy night. I would have been very lonely,
otherwise."

"Where are they now?"

"They left this morning. It is a sad story. But as they are strangers
to you, it would hardly interest you."

"Indeed it would," was the emphatic reply. "I am somewhat new to this
country, and would like to find out all I can about the life of the
people, especially in the country districts."

When Jasper had finished washing the dishes, he sat down upon a chair
by the side of the cot, and lighted the cigar his visitor had given
him. He then related the story of old David and Betty, taking care to
say as little as possible about his own part in the affair.

"And so the old man is at the girl's home now, is he?" the stranger
asked.

"Yes, for a time."

"But what will become of him?"

"I do not know for certain. I shall try to assist him all I can. But
he will not go back to Jim Goban's if I can help it. It is the height
of cruelty for such a refined man to live at a place like that. I do
not know what the people of this parish were thinking about to allow
him to be put there."

"Has he any relatives?"

"It seems not. He has been a puzzle to every one since the day he came
here. He has been the laughing-stock of all the people because of a
peculiar notion of his."

"And what is that?"

"He is in love with Break Neck Falls over there, and