But Jane had heard only one thing, which was that even this garrulous old man knew one other person whom he considered more beautiful. How she wanted to ask the question, but there was no time, for "Gabby" never hesitated except to change the location of his tobacco quid or to do some long distance expectorating. Turning to Mr. Packard, he began again: "Meg Heger's took to comin' down to Redfords school ag'in. She's packin' a gun now. That ol' sneakin' Ute is still trailin' her. I can't figger out what he wants wi' her. The slinkin' coyote! She ain't got nothin' but beauty, and Indians ain't so powerful set on that. Thar sure sartin is a mystery somewhere." The old man stopped talking to peer through near-sighted eyes at the canon road. "I reckon here's the stage coach," he told them, "late, like it allays is. If 'tain't the ho'ses as falls asleep on the way, then it's Sourface his self. Si, do yo' mind the time when the stage was a-goin' down the Toboggan Grade----" It was quite evident that Gabby was launched on another long yarn, but Mr. Packard laughingly interrupted, placing a kindly hand on the old man's shoulder. "Tell us about that at another time, Gab," he said. "We're eager to get to the town and have some breakfast." He picked up Jane's satchel and Dan's also, and led the way to the edge of the platform, where an old-fashioned stage was waiting. Four white horses stood with drooping heads and on the high seat another old man was huddled in a heap as though he felt the need of seizing a few moments' rest before making the return trip to Redfords. "They have just come up the steep Toboggan Grade," Mr. Packard said by way of explanation. "That's why the horses look tired." Then in his cheerful way he shouted: "Hello, there, Wallace. How goes it?" The man on the seat sat up and looked down at the passengers with an expression so surly on his leathery countenance that it was not hard for the young people to know why he had been given his nickname, but he said nothing, nor was there in his eyes a light of recognition. With a grunt, which might have been intended as a greeting, he motioned them to get into the lower part of the stage, which they did. Then he jerked at the reins and the horses came to life and started back the way they had so recently come. Gabby had followed them to the edge of the platform, and as far as the Abbotts could make out, he was still telling them the story which Mr. Packard had interrupted. "How cold it is!" Julie shivered as she spoke and cuddled close to Dan. He smiled down at her and then said: "Mr. Packard, this is wonderful air, so crisp and invigorating. I feel better already. Honestly, I'll confess now, the last two days on the train I feared you would have to carry me off when we got here, but now"--the lad paused and took a long breath of the mountain air--"I feel as though I had been given a new lease on life." The older man laid a bronzed hand on the boy's sleeve.