rs he has been preparing for the prodigal. The
young devil has never sent a line to his father. A bad lot was Jerry-Jo."

And then Priscilla told her story with many a catch in her voice.

"You see--he did it for me, Master Farwell. He was not all bad. Who is,
I wonder? He lies in a quiet spot Mr. Boswell and I found far out in the
country. There's a hemlock nearby and a glimpse of water. I--I think I
will not let old Jerry know. While he waits, he is happy. While he is
getting ready, life will mean something to him. And oh! Master Farwell,
when--when Jerry-Jo went, he thought he was going through the Secret
Portage to the Big Bay. I believe he will--welcome his father in the open
some day. I will not send word back to the In-Place."

Farwell frowned.

"Boswell has touched you with his fanciful methods," he muttered; "is
it--for the best?"

"I am sure it is. And--my--my people, Master Farwell, my mother?"

At this Farwell started and stepped back. The light from an electric lamp
fell full on the girl's quivering, brilliant face. He had told Boswell of
the mother's death.

"You--you did not know?" he asked. "She died----"

"Died? Master Farwell, my mother dead!"

"You see--how it hurts when Boswell plays with you?"

A note of bitterness crept into the voice.

"When the day of reckoning comes--it hurts, it hurts like--hell!"

He had forgotten the girl, the white, frantic face.

"Tell me, tell me when she, my poor mother, died?"

The words brought him back sharply, and with wonderful tenderness he told
her.

"Long Jean was with her. She would have her and no other, because she
said Jean had helped you into the world and only she should help her out.
It is a beautiful story they tell in Kenmore of your mother's passing.
She thought she was going to you. She seemed quite happy once she found
the way!

"'I have found her!' she cried just at the last, 'and
she--understands!'"

"And I did, I did!" sobbed Priscilla.

A passerby noticed the sound and paused to look at the two sharply.

"Come, come," Farwell implored her; "we will arouse suspicion. Let us get
back to--to Boswell. I haven't much time, you see. I have promised Pine
to be back in ten days. Ten days!"

"You promised--Pine?"

"And you never knew?" Farwell gave an ugly laugh. "Well, I carried the
ball and chain without a whimper, I can say that for myself. Pine is my
ball and chain. Because he isn't all devil, because he knows I am not, he
wen