"Some gal's stopped the train to git on," he reported to Si. "She's apparently been payin' a visit to a house up there a little ways, and they've brung her down in a buggy with her trunk. She's dressed up fit to kill, and she's purtier than a peach-blossom. Jehosephat, Si, I believe she's the very same gal that you was castin' sheep's eyes at when you was home. Yes, it is." "Annabel?" gasped Si. "What's that?" said the Deacon, rousing to interest, but carefully putting his thumb down to mark the place where he left off. "Shorty thinks Annabel is out there gittin' on the train." "Eh," said the Deacon, shoving up his spectacles and taking a good look. "It certainly is. She's been down here to see the Robinses, who live out here somewhere. I'll jest go out and bring her in here." CHAPTER VI. THE BOYS IN THE OLD HOME ON BEAN BLOSSOM CREEK. THE Deacon had been afraid to telegraph directly to his wife that he was bringing the boys home. He knew the deadly alarm that would seize mother and daughters at the very sight of the yellow telegraph envelope directed to them. They would interpret it to mean that Si was dead, and probably in their grief fail to open the envelope and read the message. So at Jeffersonville he sent a message to Sol Pringle, the agent and operator at the station. The Deacon remembered the strain the former message had been on the young operator's intelligence, besides he himself was not used to writing messages, and so, regardless of expense, he conveyed his thoughts to Sol in this wise: Deer Sol: put yore thinkin' cap on, and understand just what Ime sayin'. I want you to send word out to the house at once that Ime comin' home this evenin' on the accommodation train, and bringing the boys. Be keerful and doant make a fool of yourself and skeer the wimmin fokes. Respectfully yores, Josiah Klegg. Sol had plenty of time to study that dispatch out, and he not only sent word as desired, but he communicated the news to all who came to the station. The result was there was quite a crowd of friends there to greet the home-comers.