“Well, you know you’d be as welcome as flowers in May. Hanner M’ri was sayin’ so this very day. I reckon we’ll hev to talk that plan over with Miss Tina. See Lou?” “Yes, and her father isn’t making things any too easy for her. He keeps her close and says she’s got to marry either Jabez Manypenny or Pike Smith.” “The blamed old ijit!” ejaculated Bud. “Ain’t he got no more sense than to hand his darter over to an ornery rascal like Pike? Bet he swops her fer a hoss. Pike’s got some sort of holt on Cy and he’s skeered of him. Why, I’d sooner see old Jabe git Lou; he’s close but he ain’t ter say cruel and Pike, well I wouldn’t let my orneries’ ole mewl git into Pike’s hands, not if I could help it. We’ve got to try an’ git Lou out of this mess. Why didn’t that fool Iry git her landed safe before he lit out, thet’s what I can’t see.” “I have something that Lou wants to send to Ira,” said Alison. “You hev? Well, I’ll see that it gits started good an’ airly. I ain’t goin’ to hev you goin’ over there ag’in onless me, or Blythe, or some of us boys goes with ye. Meanwhile we’ll keep our eyes open; I don’t want no second skeer like you give me this evenin’.” Christine was nervously watching for her sister when she appeared. “Brought her back safe an’ sound,” said Bud. “We ain’t goin’ to let her git out of our sight agin, no siree. She’s too precious to git lost. Got somethin’ to talk to you about to-morrer, Miss Tina.” So saying he rode away with Chico in charge. “What did happen to keep you so late, Alison?” asked her sister. Alison looked around to be sure Bud was out of hearing. “I had an adventure,” she said. “Some one followed me, a man, and I was scared to death; that’s why I got off the road. I found the way back by a mere chance, for I came across a party of emigrants camping in the woods and they put me right. Don’t tell Bud about it.” “Why not? I think he ought to know. Was the man any one you ever saw before?” “I hope I shall never see him again,” said Alison fervently. “Oh, Tina, poor Lou is just the same as a prisoner. Her father is badgering her to death to marry old Jabez or Pike Smith, and he doesn’t let her off the place.” “Pike Smith? That evil-looking man?” In this new piece of gossip Christine did not notice that her sister had skilfully turned the subject. “He is evil-looking, and I can’t bear him. I’d rather see Lou dead than his wife. I told Bud about it, and, Tina, I have a lock of Lou’s hair to send to Ira. You may know things are in a pretty desperate case when she summons him. If the boys were all at home they’d soon settle matters for Cy Sparks; you know John wouldn’t let him abuse Lou.” “He doesn’t really abuse her, does he?” “No, he doesn’t bodily ill-treat her. He pretends he is very fond of her, but she can’t stir out of his sight, or if he is not there Pike Smith is.” “Did you see Pike Smith?” “I should think I did. What’s this, Tina, about Sofia?”