aid sadly
that she had no room for him. But she sighed helplessly when the Angel
smiled--and made room for him. To the teachers he became Willie--to his
equals he was Bill. In a few weeks he got homesick and, without a word,
disappeared. A fortnight later he turned up again with a little brother,
and again he smiled at St. Hilda.

"Jeems Henery hyeh," he said, "'lowed as how _he'd_ come along"--and
James Henry got a home. Jeems was eight, and the Angel, who was ten,
was brother and father to him. He saw to it that Jeems Henery worked
and worked hard and that he behaved himself, so that his concern for
the dull, serious little chap touched St. Hilda deeply. That concern
seemed, indeed, sacrificial--and was.

When spring breathed on the hills the Angel got restless. He was
homesick again and must go to see his mother.

"But, Willie," said St. Hilda, "you told me your mother died two
years ago."

"She come _might' nigh_ dyin'," said the Angel. "That's what I said."
St. Hilda reasoned with him to no avail, and because she knew he would
go anyhow gave him permission.

"Miss Hildy, I'm a-leavin' Jeems Henery with ye now, an' I reckon I
oughter tell you somethin'."

"Yes, Willie," answered St. Hilda absently.

[Illustration]

"Miss Hildy, Jeems Henery is the bigges' liar on Viper."

"Yes," repeated St. Hilda; "_what_?"

"The truth ain't in Jeems Henery," the Angel went on placidly. "You can't
lam' it inter 'im an' tain't no use to try. You jus' watch him close while
I'm gone."

"I will."

Half an hour later the Angel put his hand gently on St. Hilda's knee,
and his violet eyes were troubled. "Miss Hildy," he said solemnly,
"Jeems Henery is the cussin'est boy on Viper. I reckon Jeems Henery
is the cussin'est boy in the world. You've got to watch him while I'm
gone, or no tellin' whut he _will_ larn them young uns o' yours."

"All right. I'll do the best I can."

"An' that ain't all," added the Angel solemnly. "Jeems Henery"--St. Hilda
almost held her breath--"Jeems Henery is the gamblin'est boy on Viper.
Jeems Henery jes' can't _look_ at a marble without tremblin' all over.
If you don't watch him like a hawk while I'm gone I reckon Jeems Henery'll
larn them young uns o' yours all the devilment in the world."

"Gracious!"

James Henry veered into view just then around the corner of the house.

"Jeems Henery," called the Angel sternly, "come hyeh!" And James Henry
stood before the bar of the Angel's judgmen