ed him now just to
remember. Summing up that last display of ingratitude toward the
mother who made his selfish life soft and easy, Jack decided that he
had given her a pretty raw deal all his life, and the rawest of all on
the tenth of last May.

All the while he was coaxing his fire to burn in the little rock
fireplace he had built near his bed; all the while, he was whittling
off a slice of frozen bear meat and broiling it over the fire for his
supper, Jack was steeped in self-condemnation and in pity of his
mother. More than was usual she haunted him that night. Even when he
crept shivering under the bearskin and blankets, and huddled there for
warmth, her face was as clear before him as Marion's. Tears swelled
his eyelids and slid down his cheeks. And when he brushed away those
tears others came--since boyhood these were the first tears he had
ever shed because of a poignant longing for his mother.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

HANK BROWN PROVES THAT HE CAN READ TRACKS

To begin with, Kate knew Mrs. Singleton Corey, just as well as a
passably popular elocutionist may expect to know one of the recognized
leaders of society and club life. Kate had recited at open meetings of
the clubs over which Mrs. Singleton Corey had presided with that
smiling composure which was so invulnerable to those without the
favored circle. Kate had once talked with Mrs. Singleton Corey for at
least five minutes, but she was not at all certain that she would be
remembered the next time they met. She would like very much to be
remembered, because an elocutionist's success depends so much upon the
recognition which society gives to her personality and her talents.

Now, here was Jack Corey hiding in her very dooryard, one might say;
and his mother absolutely distracted over him. How could she make any
claim to human sympathy for a mother's sorrow if she withheld the
message that would bring relief? She was astonished that Marion had
been so thoughtless as never once to think of the terrible distress of
Mrs. Singleton Corey. Of course, she had promised--but surely that
did not exclude the boy's mother from the solace of knowing where he
was! That would be outrageous! Very carefully she sounded Marion upon
the subject, and found her unreasonable.

"Why, Jack would murder me if I told his mother! I should say I
wouldn't tell her! Why, it was because his mother was going to be so
mean about it and turn against him, that Jack ran away! He'd g