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"My horses are up in the woods, Auntie; safe, I reckon, from horse-thieves"

"Well, that's a blessin' We've had some stock stole this su aall that had happened in the little village since his last visit Dale enjoyed her gossip and quaint philosophy, and it was exceedingly good to sit at her table In his opinion, nowhere else could there have been such butter and creas Besides, she always had apple pie, it seemed, at any tirets while up in the lonely forest

"How's old Al Auchincloss?" presently inquired Dale

"Poorly--poorly," sighed Mrs Cass "But he tra for this world An', Milt, that reest news you ever heard"

"You don't say so!" exclaie the excited old woman

"Al has sent back to Saint Joe for his niece, Helen Rayner She's to inherit all his property We've heard much of her--a purty lass, they say Now, Milt Dale, here's your chance Stay out of the woods an' go to work You can irl!"

"No chance for

The old woirl would have you, Milt Dale, if you'd only throw a kerchief"

"Me! An' why, Auntie?" he queried, half aot back to civilization he always had to adjust his thoughts to the ideas of people

"Why? I declare, Milt, you live so in the woods you're like a boy of ten--an' then so irl--she'll have all the spunk of the Auchinclosses"

"Then maybe she'd not be such a catch, after all," replied Dale

"Wal, you've no cause to love theood wives"

"Dear Auntie, you're dreamin'," said Dale, soberly "I want no wife I'oin' to live like an Injun all your days, Milt Dale?" she queried, sharply

"I hope so"

"You ought to be ashae you, boy, an' mebbe it'll be this Helen Rayner I hope an' pray so to thet"

"Auntie, supposin' she did change e old Al He hates me, you know"