been away more than a day or two, I took a walk down the creek with
Aileen in the starlight, to hear all about this message from father.
Besides, I could see that she was very serious over it, and I thought
there might be something in it more than common.

'First of all, did you make any agreement with George Storefield?' she
said.

'No; why should I? Has he been talking to you about me? What right has
he to meddle with my business?'

'Oh, Dick, don't talk like that. Anything that he said was only to do
you a kindness, and Jim.'

'Hang him, and his kindness too,' I said. 'Let him keep it for those
that want it. But what did he tell you?'

'He said, first of all,' answered poor Aileen, with the tears in her
eyes, and trying to take hold of my hand, 'that he had a contract for
fencing timber, which he had taken at good prices, which he would share
with you and Jim; that he knew you two and himself could finish it in a
few weeks, and that he expected to get the contract for the timber for
the new bridge at Dargo, which he would let you go shares in too. He
didn't like to speak about that, because it wasn't certain; but he had
calculated all the quantities and prices, and he was sure you would make
70 or 80 Pounds each before Christmas. Now, was there any harm in that;
and don't you think it was very good of him to think of it?'

'Well, he's not a bad fellow, old George,' I said, 'but he's a little
too fond of interfering with other people's business. Jim and I are
quite able to manage our own affairs, as I told him this evening, when I
refused to have anything to do with his fencing arrangement.'

'Oh, Dick, did you?' she said. 'What a pity! I made sure Jim would have
liked it so, for only last week he said he was sick and tired of having
nothing to do--that he should soon lose all his knack at using tools
that he used to be so proud of. Didn't he say he'd like to join George?'

'He would, I daresay, and I told him to do as he liked. I came away
by myself, and only saw him just before we crossed the range. He's big
enough and old enough to take his own line.'

'But you know he thinks so much of you,' she groaned out, 'that he'd
follow you to destruction. That will be the end of it, depend upon it,
Dick. I tell you so now; you've taken to bad ways; you'll have his blood
on your head yet.'

'Jim's old enough and big enough to take care of himself,' I said
sulkily. 'If he likes to come my way I won't hinder him; I