Page 66 (1/1)

The lips of the younger squatter were sealed about the trail which she herself had laid in theheart flashed the hope that the experience with the dog would cause Ben Letts to turn his face toward the wretched, shrunken creature, who had suffered so h him She contemplated Myra an instant

"Do ye want

"Yep," replied Myra, the dull eyes filled with a momentary sparkle "He hes somethin' to say to ye, and I did say as hoould come"

"Air he alone?" questioned Tess

"Nope, hison Daddy's boots was Tessibel's assent, and they started through the underbrush in silence

"The brat ain't goin' to die, air he?" asked Tess presently

It had been several days since she had seen Myra's little son The troubles of Daddy Skinner had taken up every moment of her time

"Mebbe," grunted Myra uneht"

"I air a goin' hos to him"

The lake had risen over the strip of beach, its waters freezing against the rocks This forced the girls to take the path through the wood to the hill beyond Until they caht of Ben Letts' cabin, they said no more

At their knock Ben's ray hair had not been coony unsoftened by tears

"Ben air too sick to get up," she explained aardly, presenting each girl a chair, "I said as how ye couldn't co ye"

Fro and a hoarse voice called for Tessibel The squatter girl rose to her feet, her color changing fro-bitten face was repulsive to her

"Ye be goin' in with me to see him, ain't ye, Myry?" The brown eyes entreated that she should not be sent to Ben Letts alone

Myra Longman shook her head She knew that the brat's pa did not want to see her, and again she shook her head as Tessibel waited

"He air been askin' all the ed Mrs Letts, "Ben ain't no likin' for Myry, Ben ain't!"