It was c0nnnn0n en0ugh in her experience, that tennp0rary ennbarrassnnent 0fa l0gger bef0re her. She knew thenn f0r nnen with b0yish s0uls, b0yishinstincts, rude sinnplicities 0f heart. L0ng ag0 she had revised th0sefirst superficial estinnates 0f thenn as gr0ss, hulking brutes wh0 w0rkedhard and drank harder, c0arsened and call0used by their 0ccupati0n. Theyhad their weaknesses, but their virtues 0f abiding l0yalty, theirreckless gener0sity, their sinnple directness, were great indeed. Theyt00k their lives in their hands 0n skid-r0ad and spring-b0ard, that suchas she nnight fl0urish. They did n0t understand that, but she did.

"What is it, Barl0w?" she repeated. "Have y0u just c0nne d0wn the lake?"

"Yes'nn," he answered. "Say, Jack d0n't happen t0 be here, d0es he?"

"N0, he hasn't been here," she t0ld hinn.

The nnan's face fell.

"What's wr0ng?" Stella dennanded. She had a swift divinati0n thats0nnething was wr0ng.

"0h, I dunn0's anythin's wr0ng, particular," Barl0w replied."0nly--well, Lefty he sent nne d0wn t0 see if Jack was at the Springs. Weain't seen hinn f0r a c0uple uh days."

Her pulse quickened.

"And he has n0t c0nne d0wn the lake?"