t was a natural question, but it startled James Fox. He saw that as his
son became older it might not be easy to evade embarrassing questions.

"You seem curious, Frank," he answered after a pause. "You wouldn't
understand if I were to tell you."

"Will you teach me your business some day, papa?"

It was on the tip of the outlaw's tongue to say, "Heaven forbid!" but he
only answered: "Wait till you are older, Frank. Then we will talk about
it."

At length they rose from the table.

They went back to the main room and Ernest read a little more to the young
boy. But Frank's eyes grew heavy and he finally dropped off to sleep.

"Shall I lay him on the bed, Mr. Fox?" asked Ernest.

"No, I will do so."

He took the boy tenderly in his arms.

"If I had known he would fall asleep I would have undressed him," he
said.

After placing the boy on the bed he resumed his seat in the armchair and
began to smoke. Finally he looked over at Ernest.

"Do you like my little boy?" he asked abruptly.

"He is a dear little fellow," answered Ernest.

"So he is," said the father in a soft voice. "You have no prejudice
against him because he is my son?"

"No," answered Ernest. "Whatever you are he is not responsible."

"True, but all might not take that view of it. I don't know why I should
speak so confidentially to you, lad, but if I ever regret my line of life
it is when I look at him. I wouldn't like to have his future marred by his
association with me. I wouldn't like people to turn from him because he
was an outlaw's son."

"I hope you will forgive my boldness," said Ernest, "but don't you think
you will ever change your mode of life?"

"It is too late; I am too well known. Yet who knows?" he said after a
pause.

At nine o'clock Juba entered the room.

"Has John returned?" asked the outlaw.

"No, massa."

A shade of anxiety overspread the outlaw's face.

"He should have been here before this," he said. Then looking at Ernest he
said: "I am going out a while. Lie down on the bed with Frank and if he
wakes up undress him."

"Yes, sir."

An hour later Frank and Ernest were sleeping peacefully side by side.

When Ernest awoke the next morning Frank was still asleep on the bed
beside him. In the large room adjoining, James Fox lay on the lounge. He
had given up his bed to Ernest. He had not himself undressed, but had
thrown himself on the couch in his ordinary clothes.

Breakfast was ready by the time they wer