"No," answered Stonie as he wove in the last inch of string. Then he paused and raised his eyes to Everett thoughtfully. "It's jest got to be the best man in the world, and I'm a-going to find him for her. If I can't I'll keep care of her as good as I can myself."
"General," said Everett as he held the child's eyes with a straight level compelling glance,
"you are right—she must have only the best. And you 'keep care' until he comes. I am going away to-night and I don't know when I can come back, but you must always—always 'keep care' of her—until the good man comes. Will you?"
"I will," answered the General positively. "And if anybody of any kind bothers her or any of them I'll knock the stuffins outen 'em, and Tobe'll help. But say," he added, as if suddenly inspired by a brilliant idea, "couldn't you look for him for me? You'd know the good kind of a man and you could bring him here. I would give you one of the spotted puppies to pay for the trouble," and a hot wave engulfed Everett as the trustful friendly young eyes looked straight into his as Stonie made this extremely practical business proposition.
"Yes, General, I will come and bring him to you, and when he comes he will be the best ever—or he will have died in the attempt."
"All right," answered Stonie, completely sat
isfied with the terms of the bargain, "and you can take your pick of the puppies. Are you going on the steam cars from Boliver?"
"Yes," answered Everett, "and I want to find your Uncle Tucker to ask him—"
"Well, here he is to answer all inquiries at all times," came in Uncle Tucker's quizzical voice as he stood in the doorway of the barn with a bucket in one hand and a spade in the other. "Old age is just like a hobble that tithers up stiff-jinted old cattle to the home post and keeps 'em from a-roving. I haven't chawed the rope and broke over to Boliver in more'n a month now. Did you leave Main Street a-running east to west this morning?"
"Yes," answered Everett, "still the same old Boliver. But I wanted to see you right away to tell you that I have had a wire from the firm that makes it necessary for me to get back to New York immediately. I must catch that train that passes Boliver at midnight."