s courteously
holding it to the nose of the very grateful horse.

"I wonder," Miss Lowe casually remarked, as she let the reins fall in lap
and looked about, "if you happen to have known a Theodore Starr who once
lived here?"

"I've heard of him," Tod returned; "I ain't a Hollow man. I only came
here on business six years ago, but the memory of Starr sort of clings
like it was a good thing to keep alive."

"How beautifully you put it!"

Greeley was thinking how well the government had stocked this dangerous
spy with facts, and so he did not observe the tears in her eyes.

"There was a little church he built himself--is it still standing? You
may not have heard, but he had a very simple little religion quite his
own. He thought the people up here were more in need of help than
foreign folks, but no regular sect would--would handle him. So he came
up a road he used to call The Appointed Way and just settled down and
learned to love all--the people and the work!"

Greeley was so utterly amazed that the hands which held the pail shook
with excitement.

"That road what you came up is called The Way--short for Appointed Way.
Yon is the little church."

Marcia Lowe raised up and through the thicket behind her she saw the
deserted structure, which still bore the outlines of a church.

"Why, it's all boarded up!" she exclaimed. "Who owns it now?"

The exacting nature of the stranger's questions was unsettling to
Greeley. She seemed determined to tag and classify all the real estate
in the county.

"No one ain't damaged the building," he said drawlingly; "some of the
folks think it is han'ted. I reckon Smith Crothers owns it."

"That man owns too much!" Marcia Lowe gave again her penetrating laugh.
"And I should think the place would be haunted. Just think of boarding
Uncle Theodore up! He who loved sunshine and air and sweetness so much!"

At this Greeley dropped the pail to the ground, and the indignant horse
reared angrily. This was carrying things too far, and the man's eyes
flashed.

"Uncle?" he gasped sternly.

"Yes, Uncle Theodore Starr. He was my mother's brother. I have no one
to keep me away now--and I loved him so when I was a little child. They
say I am much like him--but then you never saw him. Lately I've been
real homesick for him. He seemed to be calling me from the hills. I'm
going to get your Smith Crothers to let me open up the little church. I
want the sunshine to get in an