Jepson over the rims of her spectacles.

"Don't you mind him, honey," she consoled, putting an arm around the girl
as Uncle Jepson went away, chuckling. "Why, girl," she went on, smiling
at Ruth's crimson face, "you don't blame him, do you? If you don't know
he likes you, you've been blind to what I've been seeing for many days.
Never mention to him that you know he tied the pony, dear. For he's a
gentleman, in spite of that."

And obediently, though with cheeks that reddened many times during the
process, and laughter that rippled through her lips occasionally, Ruth
washed the neckerchief, folded it, to make creases like those which would
have been in it had its owner been wearing it, then crumpled it, and
stole to Randerson's room when she was sure that he was not there, and
placed the neckerchief where its owner would be sure to find it.

She was filled with a delightful dread against the day when he would
discover it, for she felt that he might remember where he had lost it,
and thus become convinced that she knew of his duplicity. But many days
passed and he did not come in. She did not know that on his way out to
join the outfit the next morning he had noticed that he had lost the
neckerchief, and that he remembered it flapping loose around his neck
when he had gone toward the timber edge for her pony. He had searched
long for it, without success, of course, and had finally ridden away,
shaking his head, deeply puzzled over its disappearance.

Nor did Ruth know that on the day she had discovered the neckerchief
dangling from the knot, Aunt Martha had spoken again to Uncle Jep
concerning it.

"Jep Coakley," she said earnestly; "you like your joke, as well as any
man. But if I ever hear of you mentioning anything to Randerson about
that bandanna, I'll tweak your nose as sure as you're alive!"

CHAPTER XVI

TWO ARE TAUGHT LESSONS

There was one other thing that Ruth did not know--the rage that dwelt in
Randerson's heart against Chavis and Kester. He had shown no indication
of it when she had related to him the story of her adventure with the
men, nor did he mention it to any of his associates. There had been a
time in his life when he would have brought the men to a quick and final
accounting, for their offense was one that the laws governing human
conduct in this country would not condone; but he was not the man he had
been before the coming of