year. He says so. Then
we kin have matched games. But now he's goin' to send for what he
calls a 'pigskin' and he's a-goin' to teach us football. Guess you've
heard of that, eh?"

"Oh, yes," said Janice. "It's a great game, Marty. But what about
school? Is he teaching you anything?"

Marty grinned. "Enough, I guess. Things goin' along easy-like. He
don't kill us with work, that's one thing. Old Elder Concannon's been
up once and sat an' listened to the classes. He seems satisfied."

Janice did not lose sight of Hopewell Drugg and little Lottie. The
store was now doing a fairly good business; but the man admitted that
the profits rolled up but slowly, and it would be a long time before he
could take his little daughter to Boston.

These fall days Janice was frequently with Miss 'Rill. The little
maiden lady seemed to understand better than most people just how
Janice was troubled by her father's absence, his silence, and his
peril. Besides, when old Mrs. Scattergood did not know, many were the
times that 'Rill and Janice went to Hopewell Drugg's and "tidied up"
the cottage for him. 'Rill would not go without Janice, and they
usually stole in by the side door without saying a word to the
storekeeper. He was grateful for their aid, and little Lottie was
benefited by their ministrations.

Then another letter came from Broxton Day. He admitted that the two
armies were very near--one between him and communication with his
friends over the Rio Grande--and that operations at the mine had
completely ceased. Yet he felt it his duty to remain, even though the
property was "between two fires," as it were.

Ere this Janice had sent off for an up-to-date map of northern Mexico
and the Texan border. She and Marty and Mr. Day had pored over it
evenings and had now marked the very spot in the hills where the mine
was located. The girl subscribed for a New York newspaper, too, and
that came in the evening mail. So they followed the movements of the
Federal and the Constitutionalist armies as closely as possible from
the news reports, and Janice read about each battle with deeper and
deeper anxiety.

Had her uncle and aunt been wise they would have interfered in this
occupation, or at least, they would not have encouraged it. Janice
lost her cheerfulness and her rosy cheeks. Aunt 'Mira declared she
drooped "like a sick chicken."

"Ye mustn't pay so much 'tention to them papers," she complained. "I
neve