hat
the student had done to gain such praise. His own love for Tess, his
great desire, pleaded with him to believe in both the boy and the girl.
Tessibel's soulful expression went far in giving back to Deforest Young
the hope that had made his days brighter and filled the future with
promise.

"May I stay with you to dinner, Miss Tessibel?" he said, shaking his
shoulders. "I did not understand ... In fact I had forgotten about the
banquet. I am glad you helped Mr. Graves make his class dinner.... May I
stay?"

Frederick stepped forward, holding out his hand.

"Thanks," he said brokenly; "I shall never forget this--in you."

The clasping of the two hands and the smile on the lips of the student
made Tess broaden her own.

"Yep, jerk off yer coat, and eat," ordered she. "Air ye heard about
Daddy?"

"Yes." Young hesitated a moment.

"What is it, Professor?" ejaculated Frederick. "Don't keep her in
suspense."

"Daddy ain't a-goin' to hang!... He can't!" Her eyes turned to
Frederick. "'Cause ye said he couldn't."

The boy flushed to the roots of his hair and glanced at Professor Young.
Again she was giving the credit to Graves--credit the lad so little
deserved. Frederick felt this, and muttered:

"She doesn't understand yet what you've done, Professor--I'm sorry!"

"They've placed a stay upon your father's execution," explained Young,
"that will give us a chance to prove him innocent.... I am positive that
he didn't kill the gamekeeper. I went to the prison last week."

"Ye seed him?" asked Tess eagerly, striding close to him. He felt the
hot breath against his face and a feeling of longing coursed through his
veins.

"Yes," was all he said.

"What did he say about me?"

"Everything good! You will have him very soon here with you, Tessibel."

The girl was fatigued with turbulent emotions, lonely and heartsick. The
shadow of the rope was gone from Daddy Skinner. Like a relieved child
she sank down upon the floor and began to whimper. Both men were
silenced by the swaying red head. The bacon sputtered in the frying pan
upon the stove, spitting the grease to the lids, where it burned away in
tiny yellow flames.

Then Tess raised her head.

"What a bloke I air to cry when Daddy air a-comin' home.... We air
a-goin' to eat now," she ended, wiping her eyes.

Before the meal was over Tess was on better terms with Young than she
had ever been before. He outlined to the delighted girl his visit to the
priso