s, here we are, Sheriff, every one of us," he replied. "We couldn't be
expected to stay away when Mrs. Shields put herself to so much trouble,
and we're all happy and proud to be so honored. How do you do, Mrs.
Shields," he continued as he took her hand. "It is awful kind of you to go
to such trouble for a lot of lonely, hungry fellows like us."

"Goodness sakes!" she cried, delighted at his words and pleased at the
way he had parried her husband's teasing thrust. "Why, it was no trouble
at all--you are all my boys now, you know."

"Thank you, Mrs. Shields," he replied slowly. "We will do our very best
to prove ourselves worthy of being called your boys."

The sheriff regarded The Orphan with a look of approbation and turned to
his sister Helen.

"He ain't nobody's fool, eh, Sis?" he whispered. "I'm wondering how you
ever made up your mind to share him with us!"

"Oh, please don't!" she begged in confusion. "Please don't tease me now!"

"All right, Sis," he replied in a whisper, pinching her ear. "I'll save
it all up for some other time, some time when he ain't around to turn it
off, eh? But I don't blame him a bit for exploring the yard first--you're
the prettiest girl this side of sun-up," he said, beaming with love and
pride. "How's that for a change, eh? Worth a kiss?"

She kissed him hurriedly and then left the room to attend to her duties
in the kitchen, and he sauntered over to where The Orphan was talking with
Mrs. Shields, his hand rubbing his lips and a mischievous twinkle in his
kind eyes.

"Did you notice the new flower-bed right by the side of the house as you
ran past it a while ago?" he asked, flashing a keen warning to his wife.

The Orphan searched his memory for the flower-bed and not finding it,
turned and smiled, not willing to admit that his attention had been too
fully taken up with a fairer flower than ever grew in earth.

"Why, yes, it is real pretty," he replied. "What about it?"

"Oh, nothing much," gravely replied the sheriff as he edged away. "Only
we were thinking of putting a flower-bed there, although I haven't had
time to get at it yet."

The Orphan flushed and glanced quickly at the outfit, who were too busy
cracking jokes and laughing to pay any attention to the conversation
across the room.

"James!" cried Mrs. Shields. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself!"

"When you tickle a mule," said the sheriff, grinning at his friend, "you
want to look out for the kick. Come again som