ee him now. He's a grand feller with the
axe and I want him to help me."

Janice wondered how much work would really be done by the two men if
they were up in the woods together. Yet Mrs. Narnay and the children
might get along better without Jim. Janice had made some inquiries and
learned that Mrs. Narnay was an industrious woman, working steadily
over her washtub, and keeping the children in comparative comfort when
Jim was not at home to drink up a good share of her earnings.

"Are you going down to the cove to see Narnay now, Mr. Trimmins?"
Janice asked, as she turned the automobile into the head of High Street.

"Yes, ma'am. That is, if I don't find him at Lem Parraday's."

"Oh, Mr. Trimmins!" exclaimed Janice, earnestly. "Look for him at the
house first. And don't you go near Lem Parraday's, either."

"Wal!" drawled the man. "I s'pose you air right, Miss."

"I'll drive you right down to the cove," Janice said. "I want to see
little Sophie, and--and her mother."

"Whatever you say, Miss," agreed the woodsman.

They followed a rather rough street coveward, but arrived safely at the
small collection of cottages, in one of which the Narnays lived. Jim
Narnay was evidently without money, for he sat on the front stoop,
sober and rather neater than Janice was used to seeing him. He was
whittling a toy of some kind for the little boys, both of whom were
hanging upon him.

Their attitude, as well as what Sophie Narnay had told her, assured
Janice that the husband and father of the household was not a cruel man
when he was sober. The children still loved him, and he evidently
loved them.

"Got a job, Jim?" asked Trimmins, after thanking Janice for the ride,
and getting out of the automobile.

"Not a smitch of work since I come out of the woods," admitted the
bewhiskered man, rising quickly from the stoop to make way for Janice.

"Come on, old feller," said Trimmins. "I want to talk to you. If you
are favorable inclined, I reckon I got jest the job you've been lookin'
for."

The two went off behind the cottage. Janice did not know then that
there was a short cut to High Street and the Lake View Inn.

Sophie came running to the door to welcome the visitor, her thin little
arms red and soapy from dish-water.

"I knowed 'twas you," she said, smiling happily. "They told me you was
the only girl in town that owned one o' them cars. And I told mom that
you must be awful rich and kind. Course, you