"It's not the first time, my boy," his father answered, and then he asked: "Where's the coffee?" "In the box on the wall; I'll get it in a minute," said Jack. But his minute was too long, for his father got the can and was measuring out a handful of the contents before Jack finished washing his hands. Jack watched him prepare the coffee, after which he fried some bacon and eggs, located some stale sourdough bread, and taking Jack's table cloth from the table, set the dishes on the bare boards, and setting back the chairs, pulled up a bench and an empty box, and looking at Jack nodded toward the table and said: "Grub's ready." "Comin' up," answered Jack. "Want some butter?" "Nope, not with bacon grease," replied the old gentleman. After they sat down to the meal, Mr. Norton helped himself and remarked: "This is the life." He quaffed the steaming coffee with a relish, and looking across the table, asked suddenly: "How about the girl, Jack, who are these Gullys?" "I don't know, Dad," replied Jack in surprise. "I never saw them until I came here, but they are mighty fine people." "Naturally," said his father, "but what makes you think so; the girl?" "Not altogether," said Jack, "I have reasons to know." "In what way?" asked his father. "In more ways than one," was Jack's answer. "Specify," said the old gentleman bluntly. Then Jack told his father of his first meeting with Gully, of how he had sold Gully the lumber in his shack when he had become discouraged, and had then accompanied him to the harvest field, of how Gully had persuaded him to return and try once more, which he had done, and then when the contract for clearing the land was under consideration, Gully had taken him in on it and been the means of giving him a start. He explained further that it had been under Gully's directions that he had accomplished the success he had, and when he had finished, his father asked: "Is it out of gratitude for all this kindness that you propose to marry his daughter?" "No," Jack replied. "Don't you know," continued his father, "that in the station in life to which I can restore you, you can have your choice of hundreds of young ladies?" "This is my station in life," replied Jack, "and the best thing about it, Dad, is that I did not have to have you put me here, and as for Ida, she does not know any other life, and I hope she never learns." "Is this Miss Anderson a relative of theirs?" asked his father. "No; just a friend who has taught this little school ever since I came here," answered Jack. "A very able teacher," commented Mr. Norton. "How do you mean?" queried Jack. "This Miss Gully did not acquire her genteel manner from her parents, did she? And you say this is the only life she has ever known," said his father. "Miss Anderson has taken a great deal of interest in Ida," said Jack, "and she learns very readily."