Judy clutched the book tighter, and drew back defiantly. "I won't.
You-all done throwed hit away onct. 'Tain't your'n no more, nohow."

"Well, what do you purpose to do with it?" said the puzzled man, in a
gentler tone.

"I aims ter give hit ter Auntie Sue," came the startling reply. "I
reckon she'll know what ter do. Hit allus was more her'n than your'n,
anyhow. You done said so yourself. I heard you only last night when
you-all was so dad burned tickled at gittin' hit done. You-all ain't got
no right ter sling hit inter the river, an', anyway, I ain't a-goin' ter
let you."

"Which sounds very sensible to me," came a clear voice from a few feet
distant.

Judy and Brian turned quickly, to face a young woman who stood regarding
them thoughtfully, with a suggestion of a smile on her very attractive
face.



CHAPTER XIV.

BETTY JO CONSIDERS.


The most careless eye would have seen instantly that the newcomer was
not a native of that backwoods district. She was not a large woman, but