Jake. "She were home, I guess. She 'lows as how
her Daddy comes home to-morry ... I 'lows as how he don't."

"I 'lows it, too," grunted Ben Letts.

They walked on in silence for some time, the wind crooning its endless
tune through the telegraph wires. As they passed Kennedy's, Pete, the
brindle bulldog, howled in rage at not being able to attack the
squatters. The dog snapped viciously at all strangers--and more than
this would he have done if he had had an opportunity to reach Ben Letts
and Ezra Longman. These men had spared neither stones nor sticks, in
times past, to arouse the dog's ire; and Pete never forgot an enemy.

At the end of the lane, the candle in Skinner's window flickered them an
invitation to stop. Tessibel answered their knock and embarrassedly
offered each a chair as the door closed behind them.

"It ain't ended?" she faltered with a hasty glance at the three stolid
faces, the post of Daddy's bed supporting the supple young form.

"To-morry," replied Jake Brewer.

Ben Letts moved uneasily in his chair. It was the first time he had
ventured into the presence of Tessibel since he had put Frederick to
death.

"He air comin' home, then?"

There was a question in the pleading voice as her eyes fell first upon
one and then another.

"Nope," grinned Ezry, "he air to be took away."

Tessibel shrank back further and further, every muscle tired in its
agony of burden-bearing. The rotten post squeaked loudly, bending
beneath her weight, and over her in lightning rapidity swept the shadow
of the rope, snatching her father from her--and God. The student had not
limited the power of the cross; but Tess had discovered its limitations
in Ezra Longman's statement--limitations that made her quiver with pain,
as she pictured the evil thing which darkly menaced her loved one.

"He air a damn liar," burst forth Jake Brewer, "the jedge ain't said no
words what Ezy says he has."

Tessibel heard and understood. The splendid, buoyant youth gathered
instantly together, faith in the eternal promise of God sweeping over
her once more. She might have known that Daddy was safe. Every long day
had been filled with petitions, hurled at the feet of the Almighty:
Tess, in her ignorance, had juggled with the sacred name of Jehovah,
expecting the fulfillment of her prayers just as a boy, filled with
ecstatic faith, expects his ball to come back to him after he has tossed
it into the air. So would Daddy Skinner come to her