rcloth couch, which looked as if it had been saved from
the Ark, was pushed near the wall beside the door.

Across this couch was thrown a ragged patchwork quilt, and a pillow
covered with calico rested on one end, with the mark of a head dented
deep in the center.

Jim shrugged his shoulders with a look of disgust, stepped quickly to
the door and called:

"Come on in, Kid!"

Nance fumbled her thin hands nervously and spoke with the faintest
suggestion of a sob in her voice.

"I ain't got nothin' for ye to eat----"

"We've had dinner," he answered carelessly.

He stepped to the door and called:

"Bring that little bag from under the seat, Kiddo."

He held the door open, and the light streamed across the yard to the
car. He watched her steadily while she raised the cushion of the rear
seat, lifted the bag and sprang from the car. His keen eye never left
her for an instant until she placed it in his hands.

"Mercy, but it's heavy!" she panted, as she gave it to him.

He took it without a word and placed it on the table in the center of
the room.

Nance glared at him sullenly.

"There's no place for ye, I tell ye----"

Jim faced her with mock politeness.

"For them kind words--thanks!"

He bowed low and swept the room with a mocking gesture.

"There ain't no room for ye," the old woman persisted.

Jim raised his voice to a squeaking falsetto with deliberate purpose to
torment her.

"I got ye the first time, darlin'!" he exclaimed, lifting his hands
above her as if to hold her down. "We must linger awhile for your
name--anyhow, we mustn't forget that. This is Mrs. Nance Owens?"

The old woman started and watched him from beneath her heavy eyebrows,
answering with sullen emphasis:

"Yes."

Again Jim lifted his hands above his head and waved her to earth.

"Well! Don't blame me! I can't help it, you know----"

He turned to his wife and spoke with jolly good humor.

"It's the place, all right. Set down, Kiddo--take off your hat and
things. Make yourself at home."

Nance flew at him in a sudden frenzy at his assumption of insolent
ownership of her cabin.

"There's no place for ye to sleep!" she fairly shrieked in his face.

Again Jim's arms were over her head, waving her down.

"All right, sweetheart! We're from New York. We don't sleep. We've come
all the way down here to the mountains of North Carolina just to see
you. And we're goin' to sit up all night and look at ye----"

He sat down