smilingly at Ben and said--"Jabez, I reckon this has gone far
enough."

"What do you mean?'" angrily asked the other.

"You must leave the little gal alone."

"Oh, thank you! thank you!" exclaimed Mrs. Ripley. "I might have
known you would see that right is done."

Zitner had a few sharp words with his friend, but the latter was
immovable. He would not listen to his proposition, and that ended
the matter.

"Well," finally said Zitner, rising to his feet, "I intended to
see you folks safe to the Delaware; but I won't have anything to
do with you now. Come, Horace."

He strode off without another word or looking to the right or left.
Burwink waited a minute, and then, with a quizzical look at Mrs.
Ripley and her son asked--

"Do you think you can stand it?"

"We shall have to," replied Ben.

"Well, goodbye, and good luck to you;" and he followed his friend
among the trees.

"That was a luckier ending than I expected," remarked Ben, letting