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Abner in an effort to recapture some escaped thread of thought.

"Oh, by the way, Jim's awful worried."

"What about?"

"They say Perry Northcutt's goin' to start an investigation of what Jim's done with the county's money."

Up to this point Abner had been trying to drive Mrs. Sandage out of his room by the expression of his face; now he put his feet under the cover for a prolonged conversation.

"No sense to that, Miss Haly. What would Perry start an investigation for? He's the one that's finally gittin' the money."

"That's a fack," assented the head, staring at Abner, "but I bet it's so; nearly all bad news is."

"You're jest skeered, Miss Haly. A man wouldn't quarrel with his own pocketbook."

"No-o. . . . I reckon not. . . . If he was to, Mr. Jones would haff to git the county's money up for Jim mighty quick so he could show it."

"Well, of course he would. Jim would hand it right back to him as soon as the investigation was over."

"Now, d'reckon he would? Did je ever hear or Mr. Jones payin' anything?"

"My Lord, that wouldn't be payin' it—handin' it out, takin' it back. How much is it?"

"Over thirty thousan' now."

"Why, Miss Haly, his railroad costs a quarter of a million; thirty thousan' would jest be his pocket change."

The woman pondered. "I guess Jim's worried about nothin'," she agreed uneasily. "Anyway, Abner, if you can help break that strike I wish you'd do it. Anything to help Mr. Jones on his feet again will help all of us."

"Oh, I don't min' workin' some more," agreed Abner good-naturedly.

The head withdrew as unceremoniously as it had entered. Abner got briskly into his clothes and went down to the breakfast table. Jim and Mrs. Sandage had eaten and the