y
refrained from telling Sammy of the might when Young Matt had
interfered to save his life. To the simple straight-forward lad of
the woods, such a course revealed a spirit most contemptible.
Raising his soiled hands and looking straight at Ollie, he said,
deliberately, "I'm sorry, seein' as this is the first time we've
met, that I can't shake hands with you. This here's CLEAN dirt,
though."

Sammy was puzzled. Ollie's objection to their calling at the mill,
his evident embarrassment at the meeting, and something in Young
Matt's voice that hinted at a double meaning in his simple words,
all told her that there was something beneath the surface which
she did not understand.

After his one remark to her escort, the woodsman turned to the
girl, and, in spite of Sammy's persistent attempts to bring the
now sullen Ollie into the conversation, ignored the man
completely. When they had talked for a few moments, Young Matt
said, "I reckon you'll have to excuse me a minute, Sammy; I left
the engine in such a hurry when you called that I'll have to look
at it again. It won't take more'n a minute."

As he disappeared in the mill shed, the young lady turned to her
companion, "What's the matter with you two? Have you met and
quarreled since you came home?"

Fate was being very unkind to Ollie. He replied gruffly, "You'll
have to ask your friend. I told you how it would be. The greasy
hobo doesn't like to see me with you, and hasn't manners enough
even to hide his feelings. Come, let us go on."

A look that was really worth seeing came into the girl's fine
eyes, but she only said calmly; "Matt will be back in a minute."

"All the more reason why we should go. I should think you have had
enough. I am sure I have."

The young woman was determined now to know what lay at the bottom
of all this. She said quietly, but with a great deal of decision,
"You may go on home if you wish; I am going to wait here until
Young Matt comes back."

Ollie was angry now in good earnest. He had not told Sammy of the
incident at the Lookout because he felt that the story would bring
the backwoodsman into a light altogether too favorable. He thought
to have the girl safely won before he left the hills; then it
would not matter. That Young Matt would have really saved Ollie's
life at the risk of his own there was no doubt. And Stewart
realized that his silence under such circumstances would look
decidedly small and ungrateful to the girl. To ha