Andy slid down the ladder and squatted himself beside the cot. Young considered the boyish face some time in silence. "What made you kill Waldstricker?" he demanded. Andy shook his head. "I never done it, mister," he denied positively. "Tell me how it happened! If I'm going to help you, you must tell me the truth." This wasn't what Young had intended to say at all. "Andy ain't a liar," came from Tess. "Tell me every word," urged Young. The dwarf curled himself into a little ball and began. "Well, us was all in a saloon at the Inlet, an' old Waldstricker, he come in with a nuther man, an' they both got a drink an' t'uther man went out. Me an' Owen Bennet were settin' at the table, ... Waldstricker he says somethin' nasty 'bout squatters an' ... Owen went fer 'im. Waldstricker pulled 'is gun. I knocked it out o' his hand an' Owen grabbed it up offen the floor an' sent a bullet right through Waldstricker's heart. Then us uns beat it, I mean me an' Owen, an' when they caught us ... he put the shootin' on me. I didn't do it, an' Owen knows I didn't." Young was very quiet during this recital. He was considering the eager, boyish, upraised face. "I hope ye believe me, mister--sir--please do," Andy pleaded. Deforrest Young crossed his legs, smoothed his hair with one hand, and sat back in his chair. "I think I do," he nodded presently. "Only I am placed in a very peculiar position. By rights I ought to send you back--then help you afterward if I can." Tessibel sat up, her eyes wildly frightened. "Ye couldn't do that!" she cried. "Ye couldn't do that! Don't ye remember a day on the rocks, when I was awful sad, an' you said, 'Tess, if ye ever want me to do anything for ye, come and tell me.' Didn't ye say it?" Young bowed his head. "I air askin' it now," said Tess, throwing out her hand. "I air beggin' ye not to send Andy back. Let 'im stay with me. I promised Daddy I'd take care of 'im." "Lie down again and be quiet, child," urged Deforrest, sadly. "You don't want to make yourself sick.... Hush, you mustn't cry!... Oh, child dear, will you please stop shaking that way?" He had forgotten that when Tess loved any one, she would battle until her death before she gave him up. "Then don't send little Andy back, an' I'll be awful good," she pleaded. Young sat for some time, one hand on Tessibel's, the other beating a tatoo on the arm of Daddy's wooden rocker. "I suppose," he said at length, as if speaking to himself, "I'll be highly criticized if any one finds out about this irregular proceeding. Nevertheless--" He turned to Tess. "I'll go quietly to work and see what I can do. In the meantime, dear child, you can't stay here in this house." "But I promised Daddy I'd take care of Andy here, an' I air goin' to. Him and me can live here all right." Young sighed. There was the same stubborn tone in her voice she had used in those days when her father was away in prison, and he had argued with her to leave the settlement.