"One must have seen them to understand what that would be like," she said. "I know it was beautiful, but I'm sure I should have selected the gold had I been there. Oh I wonder if the woman who has the moccasins will give them a drink to-night! And will she try to preserve their roots?" "She will not!" said Douglas emphatically. "How can you possibly know?" queried the girl. "I saw the man who ordered them," laughed Douglas. "Oh!" cried Leslie, comprehendingly. "I'd stake all I'm worth the moccasins are drooping against a lavender dress; the roots are in the garbage can, while the cook or maid has the basket," he said. "Douglas, how can you!" exclaimed Leslie. "I couldn't! Positively couldn't! Mine are here!" The slow colour crept into her cheek. "I'll make those roots bloom next spring; you shall see them in perfection," she promised. "That would be wonderful!" he exclaimed warmly. "Tell me, were there yet others?" she asked hastily. "Only these," he said. "But there was something else. I came near losing them. While I debated, or rather while I possessed these, and worshipped the others, there was a gutter row that almost made me lose yours." "In the gutter again?" she laughed. "Once again," he admitted. "Such a little chap, with an appealing voice, while his inflection was the smallest part of what he was saying. 'Aw kid, come on. Be square!' Oh Leslie!" "Why Douglas!" the girl cried. "Tell me!" "Of all the wooden-head slowness!" he exclaimed. "I've let him slip again!" "Let who 'slip again?'" questioned Leslie. "My little brother!" answered he. "Oh Douglas! You didn't really?" she protested. "Yes I did," he said. "I heard a little lad saying the things that are in the blood and bone of the men money can't buy and corruption can't break. I heard him plead like a lawyer and argue his case straight. I lent a hand when his eloquence failed, got him his deserts, then let him go! I did have an impulse to keep him. I did call after him. But he disappeared." "Douglas, we can find him!" she comforted. "I haven't found either of the others I realized I'd have been interested in, after I let them slip," he answered, "while this boy was both of them rolled into one, and ten more like them." "Oh Douglas! I'm so sorry! But maybe some other man has already found him," said Leslie. "No. You can always pick the brothered boys," said Douglas. "The first thing that happens to them is a clean-up and better clothing; then an air of possessed importance. No man has attached this one." "Douglas, describe him," she commanded. "I'll watch for him. How did he look? What was the trouble?"