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Dolly's eyes flashed, her breast rose high and fell trehtly and held it poised like a dagger

"Uncle John, I've been through a lot; I've stood, a great deal, kept patience and hope; but if ive up--I'd quit, I tell you I'd never try to raise h e's head, but if the boy's father is a lawbreaker all I do will be throay I want to see Ann grow up and marry well, but what decent man would care to tie himself to a family of jail birds? Hush! There cooodness' sake don't mention this If it is true we ot so to joke about, I'race to be jerked up for distillin' here ast the pore folks the Union army trampled under heel and robbed of their all, but it ain't no fun to stand up before that United States judge an' git a sentence I was a witness in Atlanta once, an' I knohat h Your pa ain't to say actually loaded doith caution, an' he's just the easy-goin' reckless sort that Sebastian makes cats'-paws of"

"'Sh!" said Dolly, for Mostyn was quite near He was sar

"Got the mate to that?" Webb asked easily "I don't like to see fine tobacco-smoke floatin' about in hot weather unless I'ar "What is this I hear Of your club- at Dolly

"It is an improan to s started as a joke on me I could have backed down if I had wished, but I didn't, and now it is too late"

"You'll think it's too late"--Webb was drawing at his cigar, which he held against the fire of Mostyn's--"when theuin', an' you the only one on your side!"

"How is that?" Mostyn asked, wonderingly

Dolly averted her eyes "Why," she explained, "for a long time the club has threatened to select some subject to be discussed only between Warren Wilks and myself I didn't think , of course, that it would only be heard by a few club-members, but nohat do you think they have done?"