ad it was to live in
the country; and how Leon was now at an age where she'd known boys to
get wrong ideas, and how things looked, and in the middle of it he
raised on his elbow and took her in his arms and said: "Well of all
the geese! And I 'spose father was in it too! But since it's the
first time, and since it is you----! Go to bed now, and let me
sleep---- But see that you don't ever let this happen again."

Then he kissed her over and over and clung to her tight and at last
dropped back and groaned:

"My reputation, O my reputation!
I've lost my reputation!"

She had to laugh while the tears were still running, and father and
Laddie looked at each other and shouted. I guess they thought Leon was
about right after that. Laddie went and bent over him and took his
hand.

"Don't be in quite such a hurry, old man," he said. "Before you wink
out I have got to tell you how proud I am of having a brother who is a
real Crusader. The Lord knows this took nerve! You're great, boy,
simply great!"

Leon grabbed Laddie's hand with both of his and held tight and laughed.
You could see the big tears squeeze out, although he fought to wink
them back. He held to Laddie and said low-like, only for him to hear:
"It's all right if you stay by a while, old man."

He began to talk slowly.

"It was a long time before I caught up, and then I had to hide, and
follow until day, and he wasn't so very easy to handle. Once I thought
he had me sure! It was an awful load, but if it hadn't been for the
good old gun, I'd never have got him. When we mixed up, I had fine
luck getting that chin punch on him; good thing I worked it out so
slick on Absalom Saunders, and while old Even So was groggy I got the
money away from him, took the gun, and stood back some distance, before
he came out of it. Once we had it settled who walked ahead, and who
carried the money and gun, we got along better, but I had to keep an
eye on him every minute. To come through the woods was the shortest,
but I'm tired out, and so is he. Getting close I most felt sorry for
him, he was so forlorn, and so scared about what would be done to him.
He stopped and pulled out another roll, and offered me all of it, if
I'd let him go. I didn't know whether it was really his, or part of
father's, so I told him he could just drop it until I found out. Made
him sweat blood, but I had the gun, and he had to mind. I was master
then. So there may be more