“He must stay,” she spoke desperately and hurriedly. “If he can just make out to stay long enough to learn a little — how to live, and will keep away from bad men — if I — he only knows enough to make mean corn liquor now — but he nevah was bad. He has always been different — and he is awful smart. I can’t think how came he to change so.”

Taking the empty basket with her, she walked toward the door, and David followed her. “Thank you for that good dinner,” he said.

“Aunt Sally fetched the pa’triges. Her old man got them for mothah, and she said you sure ought to have half. Sally said the sheriff had gone back up the mountain, and I’m afraid he’ll come to our place again this evening. Likely they’re