“Oh, I see—you're temperance, nat'rally,” said Mrs. McKinstry with a tolerant sigh.

“Hardly that,” returned the master, “I follow no rule, I drink sometimes—but not to-day.”

Mrs. McKinstry's dark face contracted. “Don't you see, Maw,” struck in Cressy quickly. “Teacher drinks sometimes, but he don't USE whiskey. That's all.”

Her mother's face relaxed. Cressy slipped out of the door before the master, and preceded him to the gate. When she had reached it she turned and looked into his face.

“What did Maw say to yer about seein' me just now?”

“I don't understand you.”

“To your seein' me and Joe Masters on the trail?”

“She said nothing.”

“Humph,” said Cressy meditatively. “What was it you told her about it?”

“Nothing.”