me day."

Then Theodore King went away reluctantly.

CHAPTER XXII

MOLLY'S DISCOVERY

Peggy had given Jinnie a violin box, and as the girlwalked rapidly
homeward, she gazed at it with pride, and began to plan how the
woman's burdens could be lightened a little--how she could bring a
smile now and then to the sullen face. This had been discussed between
Lafe and herself many times, and they had rejoiced that in a few
months, when Jinnie was eighteen, Mrs. Grandoken's worries would be
lessened.

She reached the bottom of the hill just as a car dashed around the
lower corner, a woman at the wheel. One glance at the occupant, and
Jinnie recognized Molly Merriweather. The woman smiled sweetly and
drove to the edge of the pavement.

"Good afternoon," she greeted Jinnie. "Won't you take a little ride
with me? I'll drive you home afterwards."

Jinnie's heart bounded. As yet Molly had not discovered her identity,
and the girl, in spite of Lafe's caution, wanted to know all that had
passed in Mottville after she left. She wanted to hear about her dead
father, of Matty, and the old home. She gave ready assent to Molly's
invitation by climbing into the door opened for her.

"You don't have to go home right away, do you?" asked Miss
Merriweather pleasantly.

"No, I suppose not," acceded Jinnie shyly.

She connected Molly the Merry with all that was good. She remembered
the woman's kindly smiles so long ago in Mottville, and--that she was
a friend of Theodore King. She was startled, however, after they had
ridden in silence a while, when the woman pronounced his name.

"Have you seen Mr. King lately?"

Jinnie shook her head.

"I guess it's three days," she answered, low-voiced.

Three days! Molly racked her brain during the few seconds before she
spoke again to bring to mind when Theodore had been absent from home
out of business hours.

"He's a very nice man," she remarked disinterestedly.

Jinnie's gratitude burst forth in youthful impetuosity.

"He's more'n nice,--he's the best man in the world."

"Yes, he is," murmured Molly.

"Theo--I mean Mr. King," stammered Jinnie.

Molly turned so quickly to look at the girl's reddening face that the
car almost described a circle.

"You call him by his first name, then?" she asked, with a sharp
backward turn of the wheel.

"No," denied Jinnie, extremely confused. "Oh, no! Only--only----"

"Only what?"

"When I think of him, then I do. Theodore's such