Produced by David Garcia, Robert Ledger and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team. [Illustration: "Do you think I am the sort of girl who would sell herself for anything--even for the justice I might think was yours?"] THE MAN THOU GAVEST BY HARRIET T. COMSTOCK AUTHOR OF JOYCE OF THE NORTH WOODS, A SON OF THE HILLS, ETC. FRONTISPIECE BY E.F. WARD DEDICATION _I dedicate this book of mine to the lovely spot where most of it was written_ THE MACDOWELL COLONY PETERBOROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE AND "TO HER WHO UNDERSTANDS" Deep in the pine woods is the little Studio where work is made supremely possible. Around the house the birds and trees sing together and no disturbing thing is permitted to trespass. Within, like a tangible Presence, an atmosphere of loved labour; good will and high hopes greet the coming guests and speed the parting. Little Studio in the pine woods, my appreciation and affection are yours! HARRIET T. COMSTOCK THE MAN THOU GAVEST CHAPTER I The passengers, one by one, left the train but Truedale took no heed. He was the only one left at last, but he was not aware of it, and then, just as the darkness outside caught his attention, the train stopped so suddenly that it nearly threw him from his seat. "Accident?" he asked the conductor. "No, sah! Pine Cone station. I reckon the engineer come mighty nigh forgetting--he generally does at the end. The tracks stop here. You look mighty peaked; some one expecting yo'?" "I've been ill. My doctor ordered me to the hills. Yes: some one will meet me." Truedale did not resent the interest the man showed; he was grateful. "Well, sah, if yo' man doesn't show up--an' sometimes they don't, owing to bad roads--you can come back with us after we load up with the wood. I live down the track five miles; we lie thar fur the night. Yo' don't look equal to taking to yo' two standing feet." The entire train force of three men went to gather fuel for the return trip and, dejectedly, Truedale sat down in the gloom and silence to await events. No human being materialized and Truedale gave himself up to gloomy thoughts. Evidently he must return on the train and to-morrow morning take to--just then a spark like a falling star attracted his attention and to his surprise he saw, not a dozen feet away, a tall lank man leaning against a tree in an attitude so adhesive that he might have been a fungus growth or sprig of destroying mistletoe. It never occurred to Truedale that this indifferent onlooker could be interested in him, but he might be utilized in the emergency, so he saluted cordially. "Hello, friend!" By the upward and downward curve of the glowing pipe bowl, Truedale concluded the man was nodding. "I'm waiting for Jim White." "So?" The one word came through the darkness without interest. "Do you happen to know him?" "Sorter." "Could you--get me to his place?" "I reckon. That's what I come ter do." "I--I had a trunk sent on ahead; perhaps it is in that shed?"