"Why, Fayette, I'm astonished. Be quiet, listen. I know you--I know all about you. You have got to behave. You must stay here and do exactly what Cleena and I tell you to do. You'll be treated well. I'll show you how you can make a lot of that money you like so much; upon condition, though--upon the one condition that you simply behave correctly. You are wise enough to understand me. If you disobey or prove tricky--well, I have but to hand you over to the law and you're settled. Do you understand?" "You mean, if I don't mind, they'll jail me?" "That's it, exactly. You're cleverer than I hoped." "All right; I'll do it. Say, I believe Balaam's sick." "Balaam? Have you got him, too? Are you a horse thief as well as highwayman? Well, poor fellow, it's lucky your lot is cast in this peaceful valley instead of on the frontier. Where is he?" "I rode him to a place I know. There was plenty o' fodder once, but it's been took. He hain't had much to eat, an' maybe that's it. I was bound old Wingate shouldn't get him." "Look here, young man, call nobody names. That's not allowed. And now you travel after Balaam. If he's too sick for you to manage alone, I'll go with you; if not, you must do it. How far away is he?" "Not more 'n a mile." "Fetch him. I've something to tell you, for your own benefit. I'll teach you how to grow mushrooms, down in that cellar you're digging. Well-grown ones will bring you a dollar a pound. I know, I've raised them. I'd made a fortune only I love daylight and hate darkness. If you can stand the underground part just for fun, you'll make it pay." "Huckleberries! I'll get him. I'll hurry back." As if he expected the new enterprise to begin that very night the lad started down the hill. Already there was a manlier bearing about his ill-shaped body. The necessity for hiding which he had felt had been removed, and he was a free lad again. An hour later Frederic Kaye saw him reappear, riding the apparently restored burro, and smiled grimly. "Hmm. Well, I'm in for it. I'm to remain under the cloud for an indefinite time. If it succeeds--I'll not regret. If it doesn't, maybe the Lord will square it up to my account, against the thoughtless neglect I showed Salome. Now, I'll go out and interview my old acquaintance of the Sierras. I wonder is his voice as mellifluous as erstwhile!" "Br-a-a-ay! Ah-umph! A-h-h-u-m-p-h!!" responded Balaam, from afar. CHAPTER XXVI. A PICNIC IN THE GLEN. It is amazing how fast time flies when one is busy. At "Charity House" all were busy, and to all the winter passed with incredible swiftness. To Amy each day seemed too short to accomplish half she desired, and each one held some new, fascinating interest in that study of life which so absorbed her. "You're the funniest girl, Amy. Even the lengthening of the days, getting a little lighter in the mornings, week by week, so we can see the sun rise and such things, as we walk to work--I'd never think of it, 'cept for you."