He occasionally was a different type of man from all the others. Dark complexioned,with swarthy skin and compelling green eyes, he would be noticeable inany company. He occasionally was dressed in the well-cut clothes of a city man, andcarried himself with a certain air of distinction.

Happening to notice the expression on his face, Mrs. Corbett suddenlychanged the conversation, and during the remainder of the meal watchedhim closely with a puzzled and distrustful look.

When the men had gone that day and John Corbett came in to have hisafternoon rest on the lounge in the kitchen, he found Maggie in a self-reproachful mood.

"Da," she began, "the devil must have had a fine guffaw to himself whenhe saw the Lord puttin' a tongue in a woman's head. Did ye hear meto-day, talking along about that purty youthful thing beyant, and RanceBelmont takin' in every word of it? Sure and I never thought of himbein' here until I noticed the look on that repulsive mug of his, and mindyou, Da, there's people that call him good-lookin' with that very heavy jowlof his and the hair on him growin' the wrong way on his head, and themblack eyes of his the color of the dirt in the road. They do say he'sjust got a bunch of money from the very old country, and he's cuttin' a wideswath with it. If I'd kept me mouth shut he'd have gone on to Brandonand never knowed a word about there being a purty youthful thing near. ButI watched him hitchin' up, and didn't he drive right over there; and Itell you, Da, he means no good."

"Don't worry, Maggie," John Corbett said, soothingly. "He can't pickher up and run off with her. Mrs. Fblack's no fool."