e thought so, an' Lord Clendenning. They must
of be'n thicker'n thieves with yer pa, 'cordin' to their tell." The
woman paused and eyed the girl inquisitively. "Did he make his strike,
an' why didn't he record hit?"

"I don't know," answered the girl wearily.

"An' don't yo' tell no one ef yo' do know. I b'lieve in folks bein'
close-mouthed. Like I'm allus a-tellin' Watts. But yo' must be plumb
wore out, what with ridin' all day, an' a-tellin' me all about
yo'se'f. I'll slip in an' turn them blankets an' yo' kin jest crawl
right into 'em an' sleep 'til yo' slep' out."

Ma Watts bustled away, and Microby Dandeline began to clear away the
dishes.

"Can't I help?" offered Patty.

The large, wistful eyes regarded her seriously.

"No. I like yo'. Yo' hain't to worsh no dishes. Yo're purty. I like
Mr. Bethune, an' Lord Clendenning, an' that Vil Holland. I like
everybody. Folks is nice, hain't they?"

"Why--yes," agreed Patty, smiling into the big serious eyes. "How old
are you?"

"I'm seventeen, goin' on eighteen. Yo' come to live with us-uns?"

"No--that is--I don't know exactly where I am going to live."

"That Vil Holland, he's got a nice camp, an' 'tain't only him there.
Why don't yo' live there? I want to live there an' I go to his camp on
Gee Dot, but he chases me away, an' sometimes he gits mad."

"What is Gee Dot?" Patty stared in amazement at this girl with the
mind of a child.

"Oh, he's my pony. I reckon Mr. Bethune wouldn't git mad, but I don't
know where he lives."

"I think you had better stay right here," advised Patty, seriously.
"This is your home, you know."

"Yes, but they hain't much room. Me, an' Lillian Russell, an' David
Golieth sleeps on a shake-down, an' they-all shoves an' kicks, an'
sometimes when I want to sleep, Chattenoogy Tennessee sets up a
squarkin' an' I cain't. Babies is a lot of bother. An' they's a lot of
dishes an' chores an' things. Wisht I hed a dress like yo'n!" The girl
passed a timid finger over the fabric of Patty's moleskin riding coat.
Ma Watts appeared in the doorway connecting the two rooms.

"Well, fer the lands sakes! Listen at that! Microby Dandeline Watts,
where's yo' manners?" She turned to Patty. "Don't mind her, she's kind
o' simple, an' don't mean no harm. Yo' shake-down's ready fer yo' an'
I reckon yo' glad, bein' that wore out. Hit's agin the east wall. Jest
go on right in, don't mind Watts. Hit's dark in thar, an' he's rolled
in. We hain't only one