One Monday morning while Tess was doing the simple chores around the shack, she had the door open to admit the vagrant breezes of the summer day. Andy, as his custom was on such occasions, lay quietly upon the attic floor, secure from the observation of any chance passer-by. Stepping to the door to shake her dust rag, Tess saw Jake Brewer coming up the path. "Hello, Jake," she called, a little loudly to warn Andy, "how air ye?" "Pretty tol'able, thank ye, Tess," Brewer answered politely, "how air you, and how's yer pa?" "Daddy's pretty bad this mornin'," she told him, a reluctant smile appearing for a moment at the corners of her mouth. "Pshaw! Tessie, ye don't tell me. It air the heat, ain't it? But Tess, I air got somethin' for you," he sniggered. "Bet ye can't guess what it air." "Sure, I can't, Jake." The girl tried to match his cheerful manner. She wished she might greet her squatter friends as of yore, but her heart was sad and lay stonelike in her breast. Of late, Jake had been very kind, running many errands for her. Daddy Skinner was a favorite with the inhabitants of the Silent City, and now that he was so ill, all the other squatters did what they could for his sorrowing daughter. "Come in, Jake," invited Tess. "Mebbe Daddy'd like to see ye.... He ain't up yet.... Wait a minute.... I'll ask 'im!" Jake stayed her with a chuckle and a beckoning motion of his forefinger. "First I'll give ye what I brung ye, Tess," he said, while he fumbled in his pocket. "Here! Look! It air a letter with a big ship up in the corner of it.... Ain't it cute?" Tessibel held out a trembling hand for the square envelope Brewer proffered her. How many times within the past weeks had she visualized a ship as it took its rapid way to the other side of the world! How many times had she seen her husband with Madelene Waldstricker on that pictured steamer! Now here it was before her very eyes, more stately even than her mind had portrayed it. She stared at the letter, her face going very white. "Ye don't seem to be tickled, brat," said the squatter, grinning. "I air, though, Jake," she replied, "awful tickled.... Come on in an' see Daddy!" She slipped the letter into her pocket and led the way to the back room. She bent over the bed and roused her father. "Jake air here to see ye, Daddy," she said. "Sit down, Jake! He can't talk very loud, but ye can see he air awful glad to have ye here.... Daddy dear, Jake Brewer air tryin' to shake hands with ye." Orn's great hand lifted slowly. "Glad to see ye, Jake," he mumbled. "I ain't the best this mornin'!" "Ye'll get better with the goin' of the warm weather," consoled Jake. "These days be hot now for the wellest of us." "Yep," murmured Daddy Skinner, drowsily.