d made that little joke concerning the
fur rug and her housekeeping. Had he really seen Clifford?

"Let all of us young people help," cried Betty gayly coming into the
kitchen as Mr. Owen with the sheriff and his men left it.

"Thy help must be confined to the dining-room, Betty," answered Peggy.
"Thee must not be out here in that gown."

"Then I will set the table," said Betty. "My, my! what a party we're
having."

"And we will help too, Peggy," spoke Robert Dale. "Have you nothing
that two great fellows like the captain and myself can do?"

"Plenty, plenty," laughed Peggy. "Thee may slice the roast beef,
Robert, while Friend Fairfax may take the ham. Sally and I will
attend to the bread and cake. Sukey, will thee need more wood?"

"No'm," grumbled Sukey. "I shouldn't t'ink yer pa'd want ter feed dem
folkes aftah de way dey done pried 'roun' inter ebberyt'ing."

"Well, it is annoying, of course, Sukey, but after all they were but
doing their duty," answered Peggy slowly.

"Yes'm," said the black giving her young mistress a sharp look, then
turning she busied herself about the fire.

Each one was attending strictly to the task before him, and resolving
to embrace the opportunity to talk a few moments with Fairfax Johnson,
Peggy took the loaf of bread she was cutting over to the table where
the youth was slicing ham.

CHAPTER V

FRIENDS IN NEED

"Thanks for the sympathies that ye have shown!
Thanks for each kindly word, each silent token,
That teaches me, when seeming most alone,
Friends are around us, though no word be spoken."

--_Longfellow._

"He must not stay there, Mistress Peggy," said Fairfax in a low tone
as the maiden joined him. "The sheriff is not satisfied, and I doubt
not will make the search again. He will not wish me to go above again,
but will choose one of his own men. It is not safe for your cousin."

"Thee saw him, then?" breathed Peggy. "Oh, Friend Fairfax, how good
thee is not to betray him."

"It is your cousin," he said simply. "It was my duty, but friendship
hath a duty too. But of that more anon. The thing to do now is to get
him down from there while they are at supper."

"Sally says he may go home with her," Peggy told him eagerly. "Will
thee help us to manage it, Friend Fairfax?"

"I'll do what I can," he promised earnestly. "Is she not talking of
going after supper?"

"Yes."

"Let him get down, then, while they are at table, and c