“One reason why I came here was to thank you,” said the girl; “but there is another reason.”

“Yes?”

“Yes; I want to warn you.”

“To warn me?”

“You have had some trouble with Sam Hooker.”

“I have.”

“Everybody in town has heard of it. Sam is in disgrace, but he has sworn a great oath that he’ll disgrace you worse than you did him.”

“Oh, he has?”

“Yes, I heard it from his brother Joe. You know Joe kind of—kind of—— Well, he calls at our house.”

The girl’s confusion explained her meaning. The red blood mounted to her face now, and Frank saw she was ashamed of Joe Hooker when she compared him with some of the flashy city youths she had met.