face was dark and slender, the eyebrows turned up a trifle at the
outer comers.

"Is it Mike III., or is it the prince?" he was asking himself when
the boy awoke and sat up in bed with a jerk.

"What's comin' off here?" he demanded, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "What
kind of a bum game is this? I want my daddy."

The visitor by the fire laughed.

"He's up in city slum talk," he said. "And he's learned something of
French, too, knocking around with the boys in school."

"I can talk Franch like a native," asserted the boy.

"And what else?" asked the man by the fire.

"Any old thing!" boasted the child. "They keep me at books all the
time. I'm glad I'm with grandmother in the hills. Are you my
grandmother?" he asked, pointing to the old woman, now bending over
the fire.

"Yes, deary," was the reply. "I'm going to take care of you now."

"I'm glad!"

The boy tumbled back on the bed again and closed his eyes. Frank
looked at Ned significantly.