own language to her husband who
thrust himself into the doorway and leaned a heavy, flanneled shoulder
against the jamb.

"Hello, Thorlakson! There's a sprained foot here that requires rest
and attention and we would like some breakfast."

Then the Icelander recognized him, turned to his wife with quick
commands, waved them inside with eager hospitality, suspicion no longer
mingling with curiosity in his keen, light-colored eyes.

"_Farthu ut_! Out!" snapped Mrs. Thorlakson, clapping her hands
sharply, and a touseled head withdrew hastily from the door of the
little bedroom off the kitchen. It shut with a rattle. She placed a
chair for the lady close to the fire, blew out the lamp on the table
and after lifting it to its place on the shelf, got a broom and began
to sweep up the fragments of the broken plate.

The two Norwegians at the table stared unblinkingly. The Swede paused
for an instant at his breakfast, his jaws motionless during the few
seconds required for one long look. At sight of Kendrick his wide
mouth had expanded to a grin of welcome which exposed the food on his
tongue, but as his glance fell upon the young lady and he noted that
she was smiling at him he reddened bashfully to the roots of his pale
hair and, as if to make up for lost time, fell to with augmented
diligence.

In spite of the painful ankle and the strangeness of her surroundings
Cristy almost laughed aloud at the comical expression on the big
fellow's homely face. She slipped out of Kendrick's coat and shuddered
close to the fire, holding her fingers gratefully over the hot stove.

Briefly Phil explained what had happened to them, aware that the
recital would not have been very convincing if he had been a complete
stranger to these simple foreigners with their natural tendency to
suspicion. He made no mention of the envelope that had brought him
back to the scene of Podmore's capture just a few days ago. It was
enough to say merely that the young lady accidentally had fallen off
the step of the train and he had jumped off after her.

But Thorlakson was only anxious to show that he was grateful for the
young man's recent generosity in connection with the fifty dollar
reward. He nodded as he listened.

"Yaow, that vould be other side Spruce Walley. Yaow. She slow opp
down thar. Wery good, Meester Kendrick. Ve glad to have you stay so
long as you like. Sit down thar. Planty wittles."

But Mrs. Thorlakson willed othe