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〃But who'll settle THIS？〃 clamored the voice of the older Harrison
from behind the barn where he had stumbled in crossing the fallen
hay。 〃Yer's Seth Davis lyin' in the hay with the top of his head
busted。 Who's to pay for that？〃
There was a rush to the spot； and a quick cry of reaction。
〃Whose work is this？〃 demanded the sheriff's voice； with official
severity。
The master uttered an instinctive exclamation of defiance； and
dropping quickly to the barn floor； would the next moment have
opened the door and declared himself； but Mrs。 McKinstry； after a
single glance at his determined face； suddenly threw herself before
him with an imperious gesture of silence。 Then her voice rang
clearly from the barn：
〃Well； if it's the hound that tried to force his way in yer； I
reckon ye kin put that down to ME！〃
CHAPTER X。
It was known to Indian Spring； the next day； amid great excitement；
that a serious fracas had been prevented on the ill…fated boundary
by the dramatic appearance of Uncle Ben Dabney； not only as a
peacemaker； but as Mr。 Daubigny the bona fide purchaser and owner
of the land。 It was known and accepted with great hilarity that
〃old marm McKinstry〃 had defended the barn alone and unaided； with
as variously stateda pitchfork； an old stable…broom； and a pail
of dirty water； against Harrison； his party； and the entire able
posse of the Sheriff of Tuolumne County； with no further damage
than a scalp wound which the head of Seth Davis received while
falling from the loft of the barn from which he had been dislodged
by Mrs。 McKinstry and the broom aforesaid。 It was known with
unanimous approbation that the acquisition of the land…title by a
hitherto humble citizen of Indian Spring was a triumph of the
settlement over foreign interference。 But it was not known that
the school…master was a participant in the fight； or even present
on the spot。 At Mrs。 McKinstry's suggestion he had remained
concealed in the loft until after the withdrawal of both parties
and the still unconscious Seth。 When Ford had remonstrated； with
the remark that Seth would be sure to declare the truth when he
recovered his senses； Mrs。 McKinstry smiled grimly： 〃I reckon when
he comes to know I was with ye all the time； he'd rather hev it
allowed that I licked him than YOU。 I don't say he'll let it pass
ez far ez you're concerned or won't try to get even with ye； but he
won't go round tellin' WHY。 However；〃 she added still more grimly；
〃if you think you're ekul to tellin' the hull storyhow ye kem to
be yer and that Seth wasn't lyin' arter all when he blurted it out
afore 'emwhy I sha'n't hinder ye。〃 The master said no more。 And
indeed for a day or two nothing transpired to show that Seth was
not equally reticent。
Nevertheless Mr。 Ford was far from being satisfied with the issue
of his adventure。 His relations with Cressy were known to the
mother； and although she had not again alluded to them； she would
probably inform her husband。 Yet he could not help noticing； with
a mingling of unreasoning relief and equally unreasoning distrust；
that she exhibited a scornful unconcern in the matter； apart from
the singular use to which she had put it。 He could hardly count
upon McKinstry； with his heavy； blind devotion to Cressy； being as
indifferent。 On the contrary； he had acquired the impression；
without caring to examine it closely； that her father would not be
displeased at his marrying Cressy； for it would really amount to
that。 But here again he was forced to contemplate what he had
always avoided； the possible meaning and result of their intimacy。
In the reckless； thoughtless； extravagantyet thus far innocent
indulgence of their mutual passion； he had never spoken of
marriage； norand it struck him now with the same incongruous
mingling of relief and uneasinesshad SHE！ Perhaps this might
have arisen from some superstitious or sensitive recollection on
her part of her previous engagement to Seth； but he remembered now
that they had not even exchanged the usual vows of eternal
constancy。 It may seem strange that； in the half…dozen stolen and
rapturous interviews which had taken place between these young
lovers； there had been no suggestion of the future； nor any of
those glowing projects for a united destiny peculiar to their years
and inexperience。 They had lived entirely in a blissful present；
with no plans beyond their next rendezvous。 In that mysterious and
sudden absorption of each other； not only the past； but the future
seemed to have been forgotten。
These thoughts were passing through his mind the next afternoon to
the prejudice of that calm and studious repose which the deserted
school…house usually superinduced； and which had been so fondly
noted by McKinstry and Uncle Ben。 The latter had not arrived for
his usual lesson； it was possible that undue attention had been
attracted to his movements now that his good fortune was known； and
the master was alone save for the occasional swooping incursion of
a depredatory jay in search of crumbs from the children's
luncheons； who added apparently querulous insult to the larcenous
act。 He regretted Uncle Ben's absence； as he wanted to know more
about his connection with the Harrison attack and his eventual
intentions。 Ever since the master emerged from the barn and
regained his hotel under cover of the darkness； he had heard only
the vaguest rumors； and he purposely avoided direct inquiry。
He had been quite prepared for Cressy's absence from school that
morningindeed in his present vacillating mood he had felt that
her presence would have been irksome and embarrassing； but it
struck him suddenly and unpleasantly that her easy desertion of him
at that critical moment in the barn had not since been followed by
the least sign of anxiety to know the result of her mother's
interference。 What did she imagine had transpired between Mrs。
McKinstry and himself？ Had she confidently expected her mother's
prompt acceptance of the situation and a reconciliation？ Was that
the reason why she had treated that interruption as lightly as if
she were already his recognized betrothed？ Had she even calculated
upon it？ had she？ He stopped； his cheek glowing from irritation
under the suspicion； and shame at the disloyalty of entertaining it。
Opening his desk； he began to arrange his papers mechanically； when
he discovered； with a slight feeling of annoyance； that he had
placed Cressy's bouquetnow dried and witheredin the same
pigeon…hole with the mysterious letters with which he had so often
communed in former days。 He at once separated them with a half
bitter smile； yet after a moment's hesitation； and with his old
sense of attempting to revive a forgotten association； he tried to
re…peruse them。 But they did not even restrain his straying
thoughts； nor prevent him from detecting a singular occurrence。
The nearly level sun was； after its old fashion； already hanging
the shadowed tassels of the pine boughs like a garland on the wall。
But the shadow seemed to have suddenly grown larger and more
compact； and he turned； with a quick consciousness of some
interposing figure at the pane。 Nothing however was to be seen。
Yet so impressed had he been that he walked to the door and stepped
from the porch to discover the intruder。 The clearing was
deserted； there was a slight rustling in the adjacent laurels； but
no human being was visible。 Nevertheless the old feeling of
security and isolation which had never been quite the same since
Mr。 McKinstry's confession； seemed now to have fled the sylvan
school…house altogether； and he somewhat angrily closed his desk；
locked it； and determined to go home。
His way lay through the first belt of pines towards the mining…
flat； but to…day from some vague impulse he turned and followed the
ridge。 He had not proceeded far when he perceived Rupert Filgee
lounging before him on the trail； and at a little distance further
on his brother Johnny。 At the sight of these two favorite pupils
Mr。 Ford's heart smote him with a consciousness that he had of late
neglected them； possibly because Rupert's lofty scorn of the
〃silly〃 sex was not as amusing to him as formerly； and possibly
because Johnny's curiosity had been at times obtrusive。 He however
quickened his pace and joined Rupert； laying his hand familiarly as
of old on his shoulder。 To his surprise the boy received his
advances with some constraint and awkwardness； glancing uneasily in
the direction of Johnny。 A sudden idea crossed Mr。 Ford's mind。
〃Were you looking for me at the schoolroom just now？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃You didn't look in at the window to see if I was there？〃 continued
the master。
〃No； sir。〃
The master glanced at Rupert。 Truth…telling was a part of Rupert's
truculent temper； although； as the boy had often bitterly remarked；
it had alwa