| “He stood as if at bay, his face pale, his eyes riveted on those floating banners” | [Frontispiece] |
| FACING PAGE | |
| “‘Dave’s little gal!’” | [11] |
| “With proudly protective air, David walked beside the stiffly starched little girl” | [42] |
| “David’s friends were surprised to receive an off-hand invitation from him to ‘drop in for a little country spread’” | [148] |
| “He kept his word. Jud was cleared” | [158] |
| “It was a relief to find Carey alone” | [224] |
| “‘Carey, will you make the dream a reality?’” | [238] |
“‘Dave’s little gal!’”
PART ONE
CHAPTER I
Across lots to the Brumble farm came the dusty apparition of a boy, a tousle-headed, freckle-faced, gaunt-eyed little fellow, clad in a sort of combination suit fashioned from a pair of overalls and a woman’s shirtwaist. In search of “Miss M’ri,” he looked into the kitchen, the henhouse, the dairy, and the flower garden. Not finding her in any of these accustomed places, he stood still in perplexity.
“Miss M’ri!” rang out his youthful, vibrant treble.