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I swear I shouldn't have known that you were one of those boys!" Flea threw her peculiar eyes over him; but did not speak. "You're going to school tomorrow, I hear. How do you like that?" Flea shook her head. "I don't want to go," she admitted; "but my Prince says as how I have to." "Your what?" "My Prince!" "Your Prince! Who's your Prince?" demanded Brimbecomb.
He did not move from the window, and Screech Owl sank to the floor. "Little 'un," she whispered, "I've comed for ye, little 'un!" The sound of her hoarse voice stirred Everett's senses. He gave one step forward, and the woman spoke again: "I telled yer pappy that I'd bring ye!" Brimbecomb shook his shoulders, his dread deepening.
Some force within him had almost impelled him to ask the squatter concerning Screech Owl, and he breathed more freely when he thought that he had not given way to the temptation to learn something about his own people. At eight o'clock that evening Everett met Mr. and Mrs. Brimbecomb at the station. He could not comprehend the feeling that his foster parents had become strangers to him.
He felt sure that Horace would not allow the children to be taken from him without a fight; he knew there were special statutes governing these things, and took down a large book and began to read. Much to his satisfaction, Brimbecomb found a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Brimbecomb awaiting him at home that evening.
Turning his misty eyes upon the children he continued, "This is Mr. Brimbecomb, and Miss Katherine Vandecar, Governor Vandecar's niece." He went through this introduction to gain control of his feelings. "They have changed their minds, Everett, and have brought me the pig," he exclaimed. "It was kind of you, child!"
"But, Everett, it has been understood ever since you went to Cornell that you should enter Mr. Brimbecomb's office. You would not fail him now that he is so dependent upon you?" "Of course not; I intend to work with him. But I tell you this, Ann, that I am determined to find my own people at whatever cost!" "Did you ask Mrs. Brimbecomb about them?"
Feature after feature of the scowman came vividly to her, the wind-reddened skin, the foul, tobacco-browned lips, the twitching goiter, all added to the nervous chill that had suddenly come upon the girl. Lem and Lon represented all the world's evil to her, and Everett Brimbecomb all the world's influence. The three had thrust their triple strength between her and happiness.
Ann's anxiety had now become distraction; for her brother's absence threw upon her shoulders the responsibility of the girl's disappearance, and the care of Floyd should he suffer a relapse. Her perturbation became so unbearable that she put her pride from her, and sought the aid of Everett Brimbecomb.
Now, then, did ye hear what I said about Brimbecomb?" Fledra nodded, her eyelids quivering under his stare. "Yer pretty enough to take the fancy of any man, Flea, and ye've took two, and it's up to 'em both to fight over ye. The man what pays most gits ye, that's all." The girl lifted one hand dazedly. "I'd rather go with Lem," she muttered brokenly.
"I can see that ye wants to find out. Does ye know a young fellow by the name of Brimbecomb?" Observing that she did not make an effort to speak, Lon proceeded with a perceptible drawl. "Well, if the cat's got yer tongue, I'll wag mine a bit in yer stead. Brimbecomb's offered to buy ye, and, if Lem says that it'll be all right, then I says yep, too."
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