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"You'll have to explain the club to 'im, Lafe," she said. "Yes, 'splain it to me, Lafe dearie," purred Bobbie. "It's just a club," began Lafe, "only good to keep a body happy. Now, me well, I'm happy in spite a-havin' no legs; Jinnie there, she's happy in spite a-havin' no folks. Her and me's happy in spite a everything."

In the midst of his meditation, Jinnie returned to her seat. "Cobbler, will you do something I ask you?" "Sure," assented Lafe. "Get busy trusting Peg'll get the two dollars to-night." "I have long ago, child, an' she's goin' to get it, too. That's one blessin' about believin'. No one nor nobody can keep you from gettin' what's your own." "Mrs.

"Of course he wouldn't if he knew," she said, with tightly gripped fingers. Molly paid no heed to this, but went on rapidly: "Well, first, you don't love him as I do " "I love him very much," interjected Jinnie, "and he used to love me." The woman's lips drew linelike over her teeth. "But you see he doesn't any longer," she got out, "and if you go away " "Go away?" gasped Jinnie.

In the oppressive silence she heard Bobbie's faint whisper: "Our our Father who art in Heaven," and her own lips murmured: "He has given his angels charge over thee." Without raising his eyes, Jordan Morse sprang to the steps and entered the door. Jinnie turned her head and almost mechanically watched him disappear. Then she took one long, sobbing breath.

During her tramp to the jail she'd concocted a fairy story to bring a smile to the cobbler's lips. So at length: "Lafe," she whispered. Mr. Grandoken's head came up quickly, and he turned the chair and wheeled toward her. There was the same question in his eyes that had been there for so many days, and Jinnie smiled broadly.

As she guided his slender hands, she felt them cold within her own, but in obedience to her command, Bobbie put his legs about her, one arm around her neck, and with the other held Happy Pete. "We won't fall, will we, Jinnie?" quavered the boy. "No," said Jinnie, helping to settle him on her back. Then she crawled closer to the rope, took up her skirt and placed it about the rough hemp.

Jinnie changed her position that she might see to better advantage the plain little dress she was wearing. "But I've got to go, Lafe; oh, I've got to!" she insisted. "Mr. King wants me.... Please, Lafe, please!" "Call Peggy, Bobbie," said Lafe, in answer to Jinnie's impetuous speech. Bobbie felt his way to the door, and Peggy came in answer to the child's call.

As her feet touched the plank, she glanced into the street and in that awful moment saw Jordan Morse crossing the corner diagonally, within but a few yards of where she stood, terrified. Jinnie stood rooted to the spot, the burden on her back bearing heavily upon her. She scarcely dared breathe, but kept her startled eyes upon the advancing man. Her uncle was walking with his head down.

"Oh, Lawd 'a' massy!" moaned a woman. "Trus' Him, Aun' Jinnie!" prompted Anna's maid. "Y' always is trus' Him!" "Whoeveh don't trus' Him, I'll bus' him!" confidentially growled Isaac to those around him.

Then he slowly lifted his arms and held them forth. "Come here! Lass, come here!" he said huskily. "I'd come to you, but I can't." In her mental state it took Jinnie a few seconds to gather the import of the cobbler's words. Then she sprang up and went forward with parted, smiling lips, tears trembling thick on her dark lashes.