Jimmie's explanation, while he took down the flare light and buried the flaming knots in the ashes of the fire, was entirely true and fairly accurate. But it was wasted. Augusta was convinced that someone was trying to hide something from her. She listened patiently, but she had her own argument, which she kept to herself. Jimmie _might_ have been fooled that way by two birds. _But_, the other man had been visibly affected, too! When Jimmie thought she was settled in her hammock for the night, he was surprised to hear her rustle out again and come to his side. "What _do_ you think he can have done?" she worried as she cuddled down to his pillow. "And isn't there anything we can do for him?" "Oh, don't be troubled, dear. He'll probably be able to take care of himself. I don't hardly think he's done anything himself. Maybe he's just keeping out of the way from something. You know there's always an investigation or some blamed thing going on. Maybe it's only that," he suggested reassuringly. "Get into bed and sleep. You're tired to death." Augusta gave him a hit-or-miss kiss in the dark, climbed into her bed and went obediently to sleep like a child. Jimmie listened gratefully to the gentle, even breathing that told him that she had forgotten everything. There was a curious feeling of worry upon him. The alarm which he had gotten from the strange noise had turned out ridiculously, of course, but the possibilities which his imagination had seen in it stayed about, to suggest new pictures of trouble and possible danger for Augusta. He fell asleep, heartily wishing that they had never seen this man, whoever he was. He awoke in the bright morning light, to find Augusta standing over him, fully dressed, shaking him with one hand and with the other waving a bit of paper accusingly at him. "He's gone! He's gone, I tell you!" she was crying at Jimmie, as though he had spirited the big man away in the dark. Jimmie sat up like a jacknife. "Is the family silver safe?" he inquired anxiously. "Stop your nonsense and listen." Augusta gave him another excited shake. "I tell you he's a fraud and a cheater. I said double prayers for him last night, and he isn't any criminal at all! I could be angry at him!" Now at any other time Jimmie would have gleefully picked flaws in this bit of Augusta's theology. Instead he took the paper quite humbly and read: "Dear Nice Folks, whoever you are: "It was a shame of me to take you in like that. But I couldn't help it. It was the suspicious way you looked at me." (Jimmie took this as directed to himself alone.) "I _am_ wanted. The wife wants me home to start the harvest. That was in my mind when I said the thing first. And I kept it up because I wanted to see what'd happen. "But you will not be angry, I hope. This place is yours in welcome if you care to stay. I'll be up to see you in the Fall. John McQuade o' the Sunny Shade."