girl's face and eyes. It was a handsome countenance, cut in large,
bold features, but of a stony immobility; the eyes were watchful,
brooding, sullen. They regarded him with mingled defiance and
shyness for an instant, then they avoided his; she averted her
gaze; she appeared to be meditating ignominious flight.

The mother abandoned her labor, wiped her hands upon her skirt,
and said, with genuine hospitality: "Come right into the house and
rest yourself. Pa and Buddy'll be home at dinner time." By now a
fuller significance of this stranger's presence had struck home
and she laughed softly as she led the way toward the dwelling.
"Di'mon's for Allie and me, eh? Land sakes! Pa's up to something
new every day, lately. I wonder what next."

As Gray stepped aside for the younger woman to precede him, his
curiosity must have been patent, for Allegheny became even more
self-conscious than before, and her face flamed a fiery red. As
yet she had not spoken.

There were three rooms to the Briskow residence, bedrooms all,
with a semi-detached, ramshackle, whitewashed kitchen at the rear
and separated from the main house by a narrow "gallery." Into the
front chamber, which evidently did service also as a parlor, Mrs.
Briskow led the way. By now she was in quite a flutter of
excitement. For the guest she drew forth the one rocking chair, a
patent contraption, the rockers of which were held upon a sort of
track by stout spiral springs. Its seat and back were of cheap
carpet material stretched over a lacquered frame, and these she
hastily dusted with her apron; then she seated herself upon the
edge of the bed and beamed expectantly.