"Do you know him?"
"No. I have never met him," Ruth admitted. "But his wife is a very nice lady. And Belle and the boys——"
"Business is business," interrupted Jerry, shaking his head. "I don't want Tingley to know where I be—yet awhile, anyway."
"But may I talk with him about you?"
"Why—if you care enough to, Miss Ruth."
"Of course I do," cried the girl. "Didn't I tell you we all want to help you?" and she stamped her foot upon the warm rock. "We'll bring you food, too. We'll see that the constable doesn't get you."
"Well, it's mighty nice of you," admitted the suspicious young woodsman. "Now, come on. I'll take you through my hide-out to the creek. I told your friends you'd meet 'em there, and we want to get there by the time they arrive."
"Oh, Jerry! that's a long way off," cried Ruth.
"Not so very long by the way we'll travel," he returned, with a laugh.
And this proved to be true. Jerry lighted a battered oil lantern and with his rifle in the other hand led the way.