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Grandoken, looking from one to the other, noticed Lafe's gravity and signs of Jinnie's tears. "What's the matter?" she inquired. Lafe told her quietly, and finished with his hand on Jinnie's head. "Our little helper ought to have some fun, Peggy." Jinnie glanced up. What would Peggy think? But for a few minutes Peg didn't tell them. Then she said: "She ought a went, I think, Lafe."
He had almost met his death in coming to tell Lafe of their love, and had been struck down in his mission by an unknown hand. Jinnie knew it was an unknown hand, because just as sure as she lived, so sure was she that Lafe had not committed the crime. The cobbler had explained it all to her, and she believed him. Peggy was dreadfully ill! After her fainting spell, the girl put Mrs.
"Well, you couldn't go around to the factories or stores very well," replied Lafe. "You see your uncle's tryin' to trace you. I showed you that this mornin' in the paper, didn't I, where he mourned over you as lost after findin' your father dead?" Jinnie nodded. "Yes, I read it," she said. "An' he can't get your money for seven years. That makes him madder'n a hatter, of course."
Then as he bent over Jinnie and Jinnie bent nearer him, Lafe placed his lips to her ear and whispered something. She struggled to her feet, strange and unknown emotions rising in her eyes. "Lafe!" she cried. "Lafe dear!" "Yes," nodded the cobbler. "Yes, if you want to know the truth, the good God's goin' to send me an' Peg another little Jew baby." Jinnie sat down in her chair quite dazed.
"I've brought you something, Lafe, and I wrapped it up in shortwood." The girl carefully slipped the strap from her shoulders and sat down beside it on the floor. Watching eagerly, Lafe peered between the bars, for surely his Peggy had sent him some token of her love. The girl paused and looked up. "Shut your eyes tight, Lafe," she commanded playfully.
Lafe, smoothing Jinnie's head now buried in his breast, lifted misty eyes to the young man. "My poor baby! My poor little girl!" he stammered. "She has much to stand, sir." The other man took several nervous turns around the shop. Presently he paused near the cobbler and coughed in embarrassment. "I'm interested in doing something for your niece, Mr. Grandoken," said he lamely.
Lafe was about to give it up for the present, when Stanley from his recumbent position said: "Why don't you try that Boche plane? Seems like I heard Bauer say something about petrol. Then he swore because he could not get up. I didn't know then it was Bauer." "Right you are, Stan! Why didn't I think of that before? I hope the fall didn't smash their tank."
"I'd love to do it," she breathed. "Of course I'll pay you for it," he said, not able to think of anything else, "I couldn't take any money for fiddling," replied Jinnie. "But I'll come. Lafe says money can't be made that way." She turned to go, but Mr. King detained her. "Wait a minute," he insisted. "I want to tell you something!
Her gaze wandered in melancholy sadness to the shadowy summit of the distant hills, in which the wild things of nature lived in freedom, as she herself had lived with Lafe Grandoken in Paradise Road, long before her uncle's menacing shadow had crossed her life. Then her eyes lowered to the rock-rimmed gorge, majestic in its eternal solitude. She was on the brink of some terrible disaster.
Once we are here we are safe, for Lafe here has a place to hide things that is beyond discovery."
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