The last three words were under his breath, but she heard the
others and laid her hand on the red head with a tremulous soft
word or two which lie could barely catch.

In a minute he had risen, his cheek flushed high, and was
gripping his father's hand. "You, too, Dad," he begged. "I'm
only Red this morning - going back into the world."

His father's hand and voice shook as he administered the
little ceremony, used only once before in his son's life -
when at fourteen he first went away to school. Few grown men
would have asked for it again, he felt that. Coming from Red
he was sure the request meant more than they could know.

Then the professional gentleman whom the world knew - the
world which was not acquainted with Red Pepper Burns - and the
professional lady who was his assistant went decorously away
into the early June morning. Zeke was grinning to himself as
he saw them step aboard the train.

"Looks mighty fine in them clipper-built city clothes, Red
does," he reflected. "If that there young woman chose to give
him away, now but I kind of guess she won't - under the
circumstances!"




CHAPTER III