"And you've walked it a good many times, too; haven't you?" said the man, quietly. "Let's see, how long is it that you've worked at the mills?" "Two years, sir." A single word came sharply from between the man's close-shut teeth, and Nellie wondered why the kind young man with the pleasant eyes should suddenly look so very cross and stern. At that moment, too, she remembered something--she had seen this man many times about the mills. Why was he questioning her? Perhaps he was not going to let her work any more, and if he did not let her work, what would her mother say and do? "Please, sir, I must go, quick," she cried suddenly, starting forward. "I'm all well now, an' I ain't tired a mite. I'll be back ter-night. Jest remember I'm thirteen, an' I likes ter work in the mills--I likes ter, sir," she shouted back at him. "Humph!" muttered the man, as he watched the frail little figure disappear down the street. "I thought as much!" Then he turned and strode into the mill. "Oh, Mr. Spencer, I'd like to speak to you, please, sir," he called, hurrying forward, as he caught sight of the younger member of the firm of Spencer & Spencer. Fifteen minutes later Ned Spencer entered his brother's office, and dropped into the nearest chair. "Well," he began wearily, "McGinnis is on the war-path again." Frank smiled. "So? What's up now?" "Oh, same old thing--children working under age. By his own story the girl herself swears she's thirteen, but he says she isn't." Frank shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps he knows better than the girl's parents," he observed dryly. "He'd better look her up on our registers, or he might ask to see her certificate." Ned laughed. He made an impatient gesture. "Good heavens, Frank," he snapped; "as if 'twas our fault that they lie so about the kids' ages! They'd put a babe in arms at the frames if they could. But McGinnis--by the way, where did you get that fellow? and how long have you had him? I can't remember when he wasn't here. He acts as if he owned the whole concern, and had a personal interest in every bobbin in it." "That's exactly it," laughed Frank. "He _has_ a personal interest, and that's why I keep him, and put up with some of his meddling that's not quite so pleasant. He's as honest as the daylight, and as faithful as the sun." "Where did you get him? He must have been here ages." "Ages? Well, for twelve--maybe thirteen years, to be exact. He was a mere boy, fourteen or fifteen, when he came. He said he was from Houghtonsville, and that he had known Dr. Harry Spencer. He asked for work--any kind, and brought good references. We used him about the office for awhile, then gradually worked him into the mills. He was bright and capable, and untiring in his efforts to please, so we pushed him ahead rapidly. He went to night school at once, and has taken one or two of those correspondence courses until he's acquired really a good education.