he would if he had laid it to the darkies."

Dolly exhaled a deep breath. "Uncle John, I'm awful afraid--I never
was so worried in my life. I'm afraid father is actually mixed up with
Sebastian's gang, or is about to be."

"Do you think so?" Webb stared seriously. "That would be bad, wouldn't
it--that is, if the officers ketched 'im an' had enough proof agin 'im
to put 'im in limbo."

Dolly's eyes flashed, her breast rose high and fell tremblingly; she
grasped her pencil tightly and held it poised like a dagger.

"Uncle John, I've been through a lot; I've stood, a great deal, kept
patience and hope; but if my own father were actually arrested and put
in prison I'd give up--I'd quit, I tell you. I'd never try to raise my
head again. Here I am trying to put high manly ideas into George's
head, but if the boy's father is a lawbreaker all I do will be thrown
away. I want to see Ann grow up and marry well, but what decent man
would care to tie himself to a family of jail birds? Hush! There comes
Mr. Mostyn. You are always joking, but for goodness' sake don't
mention this. If it is true we must keep our shame to ourselves."

"I've got _some_ sense left," Webb said, quite earnestly. "It ain't a
thing to joke about, I'm here to state. Men, as a rule, say it ain't
no lastin' disgrace to be jerked up for distillin' here amongst the
pore folks the Union army trampled under heel and robbed of their all,
but it ain't no fun to stand up before that United States judge an'
git a sentence. I was a witness in Atlanta once, an' I know what
moonshiners go through. Your pa ain't to say actually loaded down with