will you help me find out?" he went on, feverishly.

"Seein's I owe ye a heap, 'case o' what ye done fur me this day, I'm
gwine to say jest what ye wants me to," the girl returned.

With an almost inarticulate cry Bob seized her hand, and gave it a
squeeze.

"Oh! you don't know how happy you've made me by saying that, Polly!" he
exclaimed. "And if it _should_ turn out to be my poor father, won't you
try and help me get him free? He'll never come back here again to bother
your people; I give you my word for that, Polly, sure I do. Will you
help me do it?"

"Thet's asking a hull lot, Bob Quail," she muttered, doubtfully, as
though she realized the magnitude of the task he would put upon her
shoulders. "It's wantin' me to go agin my own dad. If so be thar is a
revenue kep' up thar to the Still, it's _his_ doin's. An' 'less he gives
the word, thar ain't nobody dar's to let that man go free. An' now ye
arsk me to play agin my own people. It's a big thing ye want done, Bob
Quail. I dunno; I dunno!"

But Thad could see she was wavering. He believed that if Bob only
pressed his point he must win out.

"Listen, Polly," and Bob caught hold of her wrist as he spoke, as though
to hold her attention better; "more than two long years this man has
been held there, the sport and plaything of the moonshiners, and made to
do their rough work. It must have broken his spirit sadly. And surely
your father's desire for revenge should be wholly satisfied by now.
Think of my mother, mourning him as dead all this time, Polly. Just
imagine her wonderful joy if he came back to her again alive and in the
flesh! Oh! don't talk to me about the risks I am running in just coming
here; gladly would I put my life in danger ten times over, if I knew
there was a chance to find him, and bring him home with me. That is what
_you_ would do, Polly; and perhaps some day, when sorrow and trouble
come to you, I may be able to do you a good turn, even as you are going
to do for me now; because something tells me you are, Polly!"

That settled it. Bob had gone about the matter in just the right way to
reach the moonshiner's daughter's heart. No doubt she often thought of
the black day that might come at any time, when those never sleeping
Government agents would capture Old Phin, and he look a long sentence in
the face. Yes, it would be worth something to know that they had a
friend in court when that time rolled around.

"Yes, I'm agwine to help ye, Bob