aw, was a man as
old as Mr. Cameron, "that you are as charming as the Red Mill itself. For,
of course, this _is_ the Red Mill? I was directed here from Cheslow."

"Oh, yes!" stammered Ruth. "This is the Red Mill. Did--did you wish to see
Uncle Jabez?"

"Perhaps. But that was not my particular reason for coming here," said the
stranger, laughing openly at her now. "I find his niece pleasanter to look
at, I have no doubt; though Uncle Jabez may be a very estimable man."

Ruth was puzzled. She glanced past him to the big maroon automobile at the
gate. Therein she saw the squat, pugnacious looking Mr. Grimes, and she
jumped to a correct conclusion.

"Oh!" she cried faintly. "_You_ are Mr. Hammond!"

"Perfectly correct, my dear. And who are you, may I ask?"

"Ruth Fielding. I live here, sir. We have Miss Gray with us."

"Quite so," said Mr. Hammond, nodding. "I have come to see Miss Gray--and
to take her away if she is well enough to be moved."

"Oh, she is all right, Mr. Hammond. Only she is still lying in bed. Aunt
Alvirah prevailed upon her to stay quiet for a while longer."

"And your Aunt Alvirah is probably right. But--may I come in? I'd like to
ask you a few questions, even if Hazel is not to be seen as yet."

"Oh, certainly, sir!" cried Ruth, thus reminded of her negligence. "Do
come in. Here, into the sitting room, please. It is warm in here, for
Uncle Jabez kept a fire all night, and I just put in a good-sized chunk
myself."

"Ah! an old-fashioned wood-heater, is it?" asked Mr. Hammond, following
Ruth into the sitting room. "That looks like comfort. I remember stoking a
stove like that when I was a boy."

Ruth liked this jolly, hearty, big man from the start. He was inclined to
joke and tease, she thought; but with it all he had the kindliest manner
and most humorous mouth in the world.

He turned to Ruth when the door was shut, and asked seriously: "My dear,
is Miss Gray where she can hear us talk?"

"Why, no, sir," replied Ruth, surprised. "The door is shut--and it is a
soundproof door, I am certain."

"Very well. I have heard Grimes' edition of the affair yesterday. Will you
please give me _your_ version of the accident? Of course, it _was_ an
accident?"

"Oh, yes, sir! Although that man ought not to have made her climb that
tree----"

Mr. Hammond put up a warning hand, and smiled again. "I do not ask you for
an opinion. Just for an account of what actually happened."

"But you intimated th