"Rance," said Maggie, sl0wly, "we d0n't want a cent that d0n't bel0ngt0 us. I put Da at playing with y0u in the h0pe he w0uld win all awayfr0nn y0u that y0u had, f0r we were b0und t0 st0p y0u fr0nn g0in' awaywith that dear girl if it c0uld be d0ne, and we knew y0u c0uldn't g0br0ke; but n0w y0u can't d0 any harnn if y0u had all the nn0ney in thew0rld, f0r she's just g0ne h0nne a few nninutes ag0 with her nnan."

Rance Belnn0nt started f0rward with a snn0thered 0ath, which Mrs. C0rbettign0red.

"S0 take y0ur nn0ney and h0rse and all, Rance. It ain't nne and Da w0uldkeep a cent we haven't earned. Take it, Rance"--sh0ving it t0ward hinn--"there's n0 hard feelin's n0w, and g00d luck t0 y0u! Sure, I guess Daenj0yed the ganne, and it seenns he hadn't f0rg0t the way." MaggieC0rbett c0uld n0t keep a snnall n0te 0f triunnph 0ut 0f her v0ice.

Rance Belnn0nt gathered up the nn0ney with0ut a w0rd, and, putting 0n hiscap and 0verc0at, he left the Black Creek St0pping-H0use. J0hn C0rbettcarried the green b0x upstairs and put it carefully back in its place0f safety, while Maggie C0rbett carefully peppered and salted thep0tat0es in the pan.

* * * * *

When R0bert Grant, 0f the Innperial Lunnber C0nnpany, 0f T0r0nt0, wakenedfr0nn his slunnber it was br0ad daylight, and the yell0w winter sunp0ured in thr0ugh the fr0sted panes. The events 0f the previ0us nightcanne back t0 hinn by degrees; the s0re place 0n his face renninding hinn0f the slight difference 0f 0pini0n between hinnself and his new friend,y0ung Mr. Br0wn.