"The nex'day Tom were as good as his word.He paid Doc Squiers an'got a receipt an'giv it to Lucy.Then we thought th'trouble was over，but it had on'y just begun.Monday mornin'Tom was arrested over t'the mill fer passin'a forgeda check an'gettin'sixty dollars on it.Lucy was near frantic with grief.She walked all the way to Fairview，an'they let her see Tom in the jail.He tol'her it was true he forged th'check，but he did it to save her.He was a man an'it wouldn't hurt fer him to go to jail so much as it would a girl.He said he was glad he did it，an'didn't mind servin'a sentence in prison.I think，miss，asTom meant thet—ev'ry word uv it.But Lucy broke down under the thing an'raved an'cried，an'nuther Nell ner I could do anything with her.She said she'd ruined Tom's life an'all thet，an'she didn't want to live herself.Then she took sick，an'Nell an'I nursed her as careful as we could.How'n the wurld she ever got away we can't make out，nohow.""Did she get away？"asked the girl，noting that the old man's eyes were full of tears and his lips trembling.
"Yes，miss.She's bin gone over ten days，now，an'wedon't even know where to look fer her；our girl—our poor Lucy.She ain't right in her head，ye know，or she'd never a done it.She'd never a left us like this in th'world.'Taint like our Lucy."Kenneth had turned around on his stool and was regarding old Will Rogers earnestly，brush and pallet alike forgotten.Beth was trying to keep the tears out of her own eyes，for the old man's voice was even more pathetic than his words.
"Ten days ago！"said Kenneth."And she hasn't been foundyet？""We can't trace her anywhere，an'Nell has broke down at las'，an'don't do much but cry.It's hard，sir—I can't bear to see Nell cry.She'd sich high sperrits，onct.""Where's the boy Tom？"asked Kenneth，somewhat gruf？ya.
"He's in the jail yet，waitin'to be tried.Court don't set tillnext week，they say.""And where do you live，Rogers？""Five miles up the Fairview road.'Taint much of a place—Nell says I've always bin a shif'les lot，an'I guess it's true.Yesterday your hired men painted all the front o'my fence—painted it white—not only where th'signs was，but th'whole length of it.We didn't ask it done，but they jes'done it.I watched 'em，an'Nell says if we on'y had th'money thet was wasted on thet paint an'labor，we might ？nd our Lucy.'It's a shame，'says Nell，'all thet 'lection money bein'thrown away on paint when it might save our poor crazy child.'I hope it ain't wrong，sir；but thet's what I thought，too.So we laid plans fer me to come here today.Ef I kin get a—hold o'any o'thet money honest，I want to do it.""Have you got a horse？"asked Kenneth.
"Not now.I owned one las'year，but he died on me an'I can't get another nohow.""Did you walk here？"asked Beth.
"Yes，miss；o'course.I've walked the hull county over a—tryin'to ？nd Lucy.I don'mind the walking much."There was another pause，while old Will Rogers lookedanxiously at the boy and the girl，and they looked at each other.Then Beth took out her purse.
"I want to hire your services to help us in the election，"she said，briskly."I'll furnish you a horse and buggy and you can drive around and talk with people and try to ？nd Lucy atthe same time.This twenty dollars is to help you pay expenses.You needn't account for it；just help us as much as you can."The old man straightened up and his eyes ？lled again."Nell said if it was a matter o'charity I mustn't take acent，"he observed，in a low voice.
'"It isn't charity.It's business.And now that we know your story we mean to help you find your girl.Anyone would do that，you know.Tell me，what is Lucy like？""She's like Nell used to be.""But we don't know your wife.Describe Lucy as well as you can.Is she tall？""Middlin'，miss.""Light or dark？""Heh？""Is her hair light or dark colored？""Middlin'；jes'middlin'，miss.""Well，is she stout or thin？""I should say sorter betwixt an'between，miss.""How old is Lucy？""Jes'turned eighteen，miss.""Never mind，Beth，"interrupted the boy；"you won't learn much from old Will's description.But we'll see what can be done tomorrow.Call James and have him sent home in the rig he's going to use.It seems to me you're disposing rather freely of my horses and carts.""Yes，Ken.You've nothing to say about your belongingsjust now.But if you object to this plan—""I don't.The girl must be found，and her father is more likely to ？nd her than a dozen other searchers.He shall have the rig and welcome."So it was that Will Rogers drove back to his heartbroken wife in a smart top—buggy，with twenty dollars in his pocket and a heart full of wonder and thanksgiving.
