stared about. Then Joe stared.

Dad came in for dinner--which, of course, was n't ready. Mother began to
cry, and asked him what he meant by keeping a madman on the place, and
told him she KNEW he wanted to have them all murdered. Dad did n't
understand. Sal explained. Then he went out and told the man to "Clear!"
The man simply said, "No."

"Go on, now!" Dad said, pointing to the rails. The man smiled at the
wood-heap as he worked. Dad waited. "Ain't y' going?" he repeated.

"Leave me alone when I'm chopping wood for the missus," the man answered;
then smiled and muttered to himself. Dad left him alone and went inside
wondering.

Next day Mother and Dad were talking at the barn. Mother, bare-headed,
was holding some eggs in her apron. Dad was leaning on a hoe.

"I am AFRAID of him," Mother said; "it's not right you should keep him
about the place. No one's safe with such a man. Some day he'll take it
in his head to kill us all, and then--"

"Tut, tut, woman; poor old Jack! he's harmless as a baby."

"All right," (sullenly); "you'll see!"

Dad laughed and went away with the hoe on his shoulder to cut burr.

Middle of summer. Dad and Dave in the paddock mowing lucerne. Jack
sinking post-holes for a milking-yard close to the house. Joe at