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"Isn't there some way by which she can be turned out of the shack?" Deforrest shook his head. "Not that I know of as long as she holds her squatter rights. Her people take care of her, and she tells their fortunes to pay for food." He broke off the explanation, only to take it up again, "No, there isn't any way to oust her. Frederick Graves' father tried to get the Skinners off, but failed."
Kissing the little fellow passionately, the dwarf gave him to Deforrest and turned to Tessibel. She took his hands firmly in her strong ones and looked earnestly into his face. "Remember the hands stronger'n Waldstricker's," she whispered. "They'll bring you right back home, dear. They did Daddy Skinner, Andy, darling." Shaken by suppressed emotion, the little man sank to the floor.
"Ebenezer'll help you if he can, and I know Deforrest will. I'm perfectly certain though, Tessibel Skinner would do nothing to make Frederick swerve from his loyalty to you." "Do you know whether Eb went down there to see her?" asked the girl, wearily. "I think he did. He asked Tess for Frederick's letters, but she said she hadn't received any from him.
He grabbed his hat and flung out of the door. Deforrest followed him down through the pear orchard to the lane, and there he stood for a long time watching the ex-convict struggle up the hill to the railroad tracks. When he returned to Tess he found her leaning on the table, her face buried in her hands. She did not lift her head, nor make a move at Deforrest's entrance.
It was just at that moment she saw her husband place Madelene's fingers on his arm and laughingly move away with her. Tess started out of her jealous agony as some one touched her arm. Deforrest Young was smiling down upon her. "Let's go to supper," he invited. The girl made an effort to master her confusion. Slowly she rose and took the professor's arm.
"Yes, sir," the officer replied obsequiously. "You're sure you haven't anything else?" "Quite sure, sir," was the answer. "That being the case," said Deforrest, quietly, "I'll match it with with this." He drew from his pocket another paper which he tendered the officer. After the man scanned it, he handed it without a word to Waldstricker. The elder in his turn read it through.
"I have your brother just where I want him," fell from his lips. "Now, what's Deforrest done to displease you?" "I've found Andy Bishop in his house!" The woman couldn't believe her ears. It could not be! She mustn't take him seriously. "Oh, how perfectly ridiculous!" she said, relieved. "It's true enough," replied Ebenezer, getting up.
"Sit down don't cry!" Without moving from her position, Tess said, "Andy, Andy, dear, git on up in the garret a few minutes, will ye?" The dwarf crept to the ladder, and Deforrest let him go. A dozen questions leapt to the lawyer's lips at the same time, but the girl against his breast looked so desperately ill he had no heart to ply them. Tess lifted her lids heavily.
She chilled to the bone, nor dared look again. When the song was finished, she sat down limply. Deforrest Young, strangely stirred, took her hand. "Sweet child," he murmured, "it was delightful! Lovely!" At the same moment Waldstricker was bending over Helen Young. "My dear, how ambitious you are for so young a pupil!" he laughed. "There's nothing she can't sing," she replied, rising.
In the scuffle neither heard the step on the porch and neither saw the tall form loom in the doorway. Sandy wrenched at the red hair, drawing Tessibel's face upward. Then Deforrest Young grappled with him, and in the one blow he landed under the squatter's chin, the angry lawyer concentrated the vim of years of exasperated waiting. Sandy slumped to the floor.
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