though afraid that The Woman might hear, "and, say, I guess you're goin' to have swell company. She's got a passenger, and he waved his hat at me and yelled." 

 Trooper ventured out upon the veranda, followed by Tilly. 

 "Like as not he was yellin' for help," he suggested.  "It's a man, sure enough, Trooper," said Tilly, with a giggle.  "Guess she's goin' to give you the sack, and she's brought him out to do the seedin'." 

 "Too good to be true," sighed the young man mournfully.  "'Most likely it's an implement agent. The Woman's always buyin' something new made o' wheels." 

 "She'll be gettin' a machine to wind you up and set you goin' at four in the mornin'," said Duke comfortingly.  "Sit down and have a smoke, she'll know you're gone in a minit anyhow." 

 Meanwhile the car bumped across the little bridge that spanned the creek and went storming up the opposite hill. And at the top of the hill sat Christina Lindsay on the fence top wishing with all her might and main that Mr. Opportunity would come out and meet her. 

 As soon as Mrs. Johnnie Dunn saw her, she stopped her car opposite the stile with a word to the man at her side. He picked up his suit-case and stepped hurriedly from the car. 

 "Hello, there, Christine!" shouted The Woman, over the stranger's shoulder, "here's a man from Algonquin wants a place to board. Do you think your mother'd take him?" 

 The stranger came forward looking intently at Christina, with a twinkle in his eye. He was stout, with iron-grey hair. His bronzed face was good to look at, and he had a loud hearty voice, and a breezy manner. He raised his hat with elaborate politeness. 

 "I hope you can take a stranger in for a week or two," he said.  "I heard that the Lindsays are noted for their hospitality." 

 "I'm afraid we can't, but I'll ask mother," said Christina, coming down off the fence to a more formal position. She spoke rather stiffly, for the stranger's air of easy familiarity rather put her on her dignity. 

 Mrs. Johnnie Dunn still sat in her churning car and looked on with laughing eyes.  "Take him along up home and show him to your Ma, and see if she likes him," she shouted "'cause if youse folks won't keep him, I'll have to cart him back to town." 

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