no other than
Frederick. He placed his fingers on his lips.

"You have fish to sell," he asked, "I will take them all. Go around to
the back door and leave them...." Then in a lower tone he ordered, "Meet
me in five minutes at the bottom of the hill."

The last of the sentence was breathed rather than spoken. Dan Jordan
turned into State Street some minutes afterwards, and he could see the
glistening red head of the fisher-girl as she swung her empty basket on
her arm and jingled the money in her hand which she had received for the
fish.

"Tell me quickly where Mr. Graves is," commanded Dan rushing toward her.

"He air in my hut," answered Tess bluntly.

"Did the boys bring him there?"

"Nope, he got away.... And I took him there."

She described the plan she and Frederick had formed.

"Ye see by that way ye can get him to the supper, can't ye?"

"Yes," replied Dan delightedly, "and we will never be able to thank you
enough for what you have done. Let me assure you that we are very
grateful to you."

"Aw, shut up!" Every white tooth showed in the wide smile, "I ain't
done nothin'. He air done more than that for me."

The sweet face lighted by the infinite love for the student hidden in
her hut spoke its own secret to Dan Jordan and through his recently
acquired knowledge of heart emotions, he stared vaguely at the girl.
Would Frederick--no, no--the minister's son was a better lad than he.
His eyes filled with tears and a lump came into his throat. He stood
watching the figure of Tess moving away, and regarded intently the great
boots, the ragged skirt, the beautiful ringlets and the proud young head
set so well upon the sloping shoulders. Dan's mind reverted to another
girl, no older than the squatter, and with a sigh mournful enough he
turned back to the fraternity.

* * * * *

Tess walked down the lane, running as she neared the foot of the hill.
She wanted to impart to the student what Dan had told her. With her
fingers upon the hut latch she stopped short. Voices came from inside.
She dropped her hand--Ben Letts was there or another squatter. Suddenly
she opened the door and stood in the entrance. Frederick was seated upon
"Daddy's" stool; Professor Young was standing in his fur coat with his
back to the stove.

The student's face had blanched to the hue of death; an expression such
as Tess had never seen in human eyes rested in his. He was speaking and
the girl's ear