up along of Zoeth until Debby T. came back from her shoppin'
cruise. Then I come downstairs again and his hat and bag was gone. There
wan't nobody here."

"Where was Mary-'Gusta? Where is she now?"

"Up in her room, I cal'late. I heard her movin' round there a spell
ago."

Shadrach went up the stairs, along the hall, and knocked at Mary's door.

"Who is it?" asked a faint voice within.

"It's your Uncle Shad, Mary-'Gusta. Can I come in?"

"Yes."

He entered. There was no lamp and the room was dark.

"Where are you?" he demanded.

"Here, by the window, Uncle Shad."

She was sitting in the rocker by the window. He could not see her face,
but as he bent and kissed her cheek he found it wet.

"Mercy on us! You've been cryin'!" he declared.

"Oh--Oh, no, I haven't! I--"

"Rubbish! Yes, you have, too. Settin' alone up here in the dark and
cryin'! Mary-'Gusta Lathrop, come here!"

She had risen from the rocking-chair, but he seized her in his arms, sat
down in the chair himself, and lifted her to his knee just as he used to
do when she was the little Mary-'Gusta.

"Now there, dearie," he said. "You'll tell your Uncle Shad. What is it?"

"Oh, nothing, Uncle Shad, dear. I was--I'm feeling just a little silly
this afternoon, I guess. You mustn't ask me."

"All right, I won't ask--I'll tell. That young feller from out West,
the feller with the uncommon name--Brown--Jones--Oh, no, Smith, that was
it--he came cruisin' around here and--"

"Uncle Shad, how did you know?"

"A little bird told me. A long-legged bird without much hair on top--a
bald-headed eagle, I cal'late he must be. Hops round our kitchen
daytimes and roosts in the attic nights."

"Isaiah! Of course he would tell."

"Of course he would--BEIN' Isaiah. Well, this Smith critter, he came
and--and--well, I guess you'll have to tell me the rest."

"There isn't much to tell. He came and--and then he went away again."

"Went away--where?"

"Out to Carson City, I suppose."

"Ain't he comin' back any more?"

"No."

"Why? Don't you want him to come, Mary-'Gusta?"

"Oh, Uncle Shad, please don't. I don't feel as if I could answer. Don't
ask me."

"There, there, dearie; don't you answer nothin'. You set still here and
be my baby. I ain't had a chance to baby you for a long spell and it
seems good."

Silence. Suddenly the Captain felt the head which nestled against his
shoulder stir.

"Uncle Shadrach," said Mary-'Gusta, "what do you do when