could be cared for, and so
lessen the number of starving persons elsewhere.' Mrs. Turner made a
personal application of the remark, and suggested that if it had been
_your_ pies which had been purloined you might feel differently."

Eunice laughed as gaily as a girl, and exclaimed:

"So it has grown to be 'pies,' has it? The last time I heard the matter
mentioned it was one possible pie, and Robert, as well as a tramp, had
been in the locality where they were set to cool. Besides, it would be
an excellent thing if they had all been taken. Mrs. Turner is a nice
woman, but she can't make pastry fit to eat, as witness her husband's
dyspepsia. Monty says they have pie at the Turners three times a day,
and it's a paradise for hungry small visitors who can digest anything.
Indeed, I am surprised to learn I gave my neighbor offence on this same
pie subject. We talked for some time over it and she fell into my idea
that fruit for dessert would suit Mr. Turner far better than pastry, and
save her a world of trouble. It would also diminish the number of the
children's playmate 'droppers-in' at meal-times. Yes, I am surprised."

They had come within sight of The Maples, and Squire Pettijohn had, with
apparent carelessness, let back the top of the buggy so that any who
cared might observe him riding with the mistress of that fine old estate
and the present centre or heroine of so much mystery. This was an
unusual thing to do, for letting carriage-tops back is apt to crack the
leather, and "Jim" Pettijohn cracked nothing which could be preserved.
Eunice comprehended and smiled quietly in her corner of the seat,
talking at length as she had done to stave off any further prying into
her affairs.

Even yet she was not to be let free. Said the gentleman, with a
preliminary cough:

"I do hope and trust, dear Miss Maitland, that you will forego a
mistaken expression of sympathy, should an appeal be made to you, and
assist me as a magistrate to nip this evil in the bud. In other words,
to send this vagrant to the lockup at the earliest possible moment. As I
observed, you owe it to your community to protect it, not endanger it."

Eunice turned her glowing eyes upon him. "And I owe to the Great Father,
who has given us this day, to be good to every child of His, however
humble. If the tramp comes to my door he shall be fed. If he needs
shelter I will shelter him. If he needs clothing I will clothe him.
Why, look, man, look!" spreading