Through the trees he could see the Beecham's house, stark white in the early morning light. It was after seven o'clock, he thought, and the family would soon be at breakfast. A small stream of smoke drifted up from the kitchen chimney, wavering and drooping in the still air. Tom left the stream and entered the bushes. When he was within fifty yards of the house, he dropped to the ground. An instant later, he felt himself going to sleep. It was like whirling through a great dark space to oblivion. He awoke two hours later, and felt the warm sun beating down upon him. He raised his head and glanced about, recollecting how he had come here. Then he squirmed through the branches and looked toward the house. There, in the garden, stood Marjorie, snipping at a rose bush with a pair of scissors. "Marjorie!" he called hoarsely. She glanced at the house, as though she thought that someone there had called her. "Marjorie!" She turned in his direction. "It's Tom Burns--over here. Down at the end of this row--in the bushes." Her scissors dropped to the ground and her hands went to her throat in a gesture of alarm. "Come here," he said. "But slowly--so that they won't know." She recovered the scissors hurriedly and came toward him. "Where are you?" she gasped. "Here--hiding. Stop at that last rose bush and pretend to be working." "Oh, Tom--you escaped! You got away!" "Yes, but I'm famished. Crossed the Tennessee last night--nothing to eat since night before last. Can you...?" "Yes, I'll get you something," she gasped. "I'm so glad you escaped. I've been worried.... Wait there." She walked toward the house and entered. Presently she came out of the kitchen door and sauntered into the garden again. "I told Mattie, the cook," she said as she came near him and went to trimming the rose bush again. "She understands. Her little boy is going to bring you something to eat. Here he comes." He looked out and saw the little colored boy, Jasper, running to the stable. He entered and appeared a second later out of the rear door; then he made a wide detour to avoid being seen from the house, and disappeared in the woods. "As soon as he comes, go back until you're out of sight of the house. I'll meet you there. Watch for me." "Yes--I understand." She turned away, walked idly through the garden, and entered the kitchen again. Presently Tom heard the crackle of branches, and Jasper, his eyes and mouth wide open, came through the bushes. "Here, Jasper," said Tom. "Come on--I won't hurt you." The boy had stopped, suddenly terror-stricken. "Come on, Jasper." He approached cautiously, step by step, holding a package before him. He dropped it when Tom put his hand out, and hurried back a few feet. "Now, Jasper, you go right back to your mammy again," said Tom. "Don't say a word to anyone." Jasper nodded vigorously, then fled.