why，shekneweverysinglethingintheBiblethatmeantitwasherdutytofeedandgiveabedtoanyone，nomatterhowdirtyormiserablelookinghewas！SowhenLeoncameinoneeveningatduskandsaid，“There’sanother`EvenSo’comingdowntheLittleHill！“allofusknewthatwe’dhavecompanyforthenight，andwehad。
　　Ididn’tlikethatman，butsomeoftheothersseemedtofindhimamusing。MaybeitwasbecauseIhadnothingtodobutsitandwatchhim，andsoIsawmoreofhimthantheoneswhocameandwentallthetime。Aslongastherewasanyoneintheroom，hecomplaineddreadfullyabouthissorefoot，andthencheeredupandtalked，andhecouldtellinterestingthings。Hewasyoung，buthemusthavebeenmosteverywhereandseeneverything。HewasverybraveandcouldstandoffthreemenwhoweregoingtotakefromhimthemoneyhewascarryingtobuyapieceoflandinIllinois。Theminutethegrownfolkslefttheroomtomilk，dothenightfeeding，andbeginsupper，hetwistedinhischairandlookedateverydoor，andwentandstoodatthebackdining-roomwindow，wherehecouldseethebarnandwhatwasoutthere，andcomingbackhetookapeepintofather’sandmother’sroom，andalthoughhelimpeddreadfullywhenhecame，hewalkedlikeanyonewhenhewentoverandpickedupfather’sgunandlookedtoseeifitwereloaded，andseemedmightygladwhenhefounditwasn’t。Fathersaidhecouldloadinaflashwhenitwasnecessary，buthewasdubiousaboutaloadedguninahousefullofchildren。Notoneofusevertouchedit，untiltheboyswerebigenoughtohavepermission，likeLaddieandLeonhad。Hesaidagunwassuchagreat“moralpersuader，“thatthesightofonewasmostlyallthatwasneeded，andnobodycouldtellbylookingatitwhetheritwasloadedornot。Thismancould，forheexaminedthelockandsmiledinapleasedwayoverit，andheneverlimpedastepgoingbacktohischair。Hekeptoncomplaining，untilfathertoldhimbeforebedtimethathehadbetterrestadayortwo，andmothersaidthatwouldbeagoodidea。
　　Hetalkedsomuchwecouldn’tdoourlessonsorspellverywell，butitwasFridayandwe’dhaveanotherchanceSaturday，soitdidn’tmakesomuchdifference。FathersaidthetravellermustbetiredandsleepyandLeonshouldtakealightandshowhimtobed。Hestayedsolongfatherwenttothefootofthestairway，andaskedhimwhyhedidn’tcomedownandhesaidhewasinbedtoo。ThenextmorninghewassleepyatbreakfastandLaddiesaiditwasnowonder，becauseLeonandthetravellerweretalkingwhenhewentupstairs。Themanturnedtofatherandsaid：
　　“That’samightysmartboy，Mr。Stanton。“Fatherfrownedandsaid：“Praisetothefaceisopendisgrace。Ihopehewillbesmartenoughnottodisgraceus，anyway。“
　　Thetravellersaidhewassurehewouldbe，andwecouldseethathehadtakenalikingtoLeon，forhewentwithhimtothebarntohelpdothemorningfeeding。Theystayedsolongmothersentmetocallthem，andwhenIgotthere，themanwastellingLeonhowfoolishitwasforboystoliveonafarm；howtheyneverwouldamounttoanythingunlesstheywenttocities，andaboutallthefuntherewasthere，andhowniceitwastotravel，evenalongtheroads，becauseeveryonefedyou，andgaveyouagoodbed。Heforgotthatwalkinghadmadehisfootlame，andI
　　couldn’tsee，tosaveme，whyhewasgoingtospendhismoneytobuyafarm，ifhethoughtatowntheonlyplacewhereitwasfittolive。
　　HestayedallSaturday，andfathersaidSundaywasnosuitabletimetostartonajourneyagain，andtheman’sfootwasbadwhenfatherwasaround，soitwouldbebettertowaituntilMonday。
　　ThetravellertaggedLeonandtoldhimwhatafinefellowhewas，howsmarthewas，andtoproveit，Leonboastedabouteverythingheknew，andshowedthemanalloverthefarm。
　　IevensawthempasstheStationintheorchard，andheardLeonbraghowfatherhadbeenanagentfortheGovernor；butofcoursehedidn’treallyshowhimtheplace，andprobablyitwouldhavemadenodifferenceifhehad，forallthemoneymusthavebeenspentonSally’swedding。Ofcoursefathermighthaveputsometherehehadgotsince，orthatmoneymightneverhavebeenhisatall，butitseemedasifitwouldbe，becauseitwasonhisland。
　　Sundayeveningallofusattendedchurch，butthetravellerwastootired，sowhenLeonsaidhe’dstaywithhim，fatherthoughtitwasallright。Icouldseenoonewantedtoleavethemanaloneinthehouse。Hesaidthey’dgotobedearly，andwecameinquitelate。Thelampwasturnedlow，thedoorunlocked，andeverythinginplace。Laddiewenttobedwithoutacandle，andsaidhe’dundressandslipineasysoasnottowakenthem。
　　Inthemorningwhenhegotupthetraveller’sbedhadn’tbeensleptin，andneitherhadLeon’s。Thegunwasgone，andfatherstaredatmother，andmotherstaredatLaddie，andheturnedandranstraighttowardtheStation，andinaminutehewasback，whiterthanaplate。Hejustsaid：“Allgone！“Fatherandmotherbothsatdownsuddenlyandhard。ThenLaddierantothebarnandcamebackandsaidnoneofthehorseshadbeentaken。
　　Soontheywentintotheparlourandshutthedoor，andwhentheycameoutfatherstaggeredandmotherlookedexactlylikeSabethany。Laddierantothebarn，saddledFlosandrodeaway。
　　Fatherwantedtoringanalarmonthedinnerbell，likehehadacallarrangedtogetalltheneighbourstherequicklyifwehadsicknessortrouble，andmothersaid：“Paul，youshallnot！
　　He’ssoyoung！We’vegottokeepthisaslongaswecan，andmaybetheLordwillhelpusfindhim，andwecangivehimanotherchance。“
　　Fatherstartedtosaysomething，andmotherheldupherhandandjustsaid，“Paul！“andhesankbackinthechairandkeptstill。
　　Motheralwayshadspokenofhimas“theHeadoftheFamily，“andherehewasn’tatall！HemindedherquicklyasIwould。
　　WhenMissAmeliacamedownstairstheyletherstarttoschoolandnevertoldheraword，butmothersaidMayandIwerenottogo。
　　SoIslippedoutandranthroughtheorchardtolookattheStation，andsureenough！thestonewasrolledback，thedooropenandthecanlyingonthefloor。Isliddownandpickeditup，andtherewasonesheetofpapermoneyleftinitstucktothesides。Itwasallplainasapikestaff。Leonmusthavethoughtthemoneyhadbeenspent，andshowedthetravellertheStation，justtobrag，andheguessedtheremightbesomethingthere，andhadgonewhilewewereatchurchandtakenit。Hehadallnightthestartofus，andhemighthaveahorsewaitingsomewhere，andbealmosttoIllinoisbythistime，andifthemoneybelongedtofather，therewouldbenoChristmas；andifithappenedtobethemoneythecountygavehimtopaythemenwhoworkedtheroadseveryfall，andMissAmelia，orcollectionsfromthechurch，he’dhavetopayitback，evenifitputhimindebt；
　　andifhedied，theymighttaketheland，likehesaid；andwhereonearthwasLeon？Knewwhathe’ddoneandhiding，Ibet！Heneededthethrashinghewouldgetthattime，andIstartedouttohunthimandhaveitoverwith，somotherwouldn’tbeuneasyabouthimyet；andthenIrememberedLaddiehadsaidLeonhadn’tbeeninbedallnight。Hewasgonetoo！
　　Maybehewantedtotrylifeinacity，wherethetravellerhadsaideverythingwassogrand；buthemusthaveknownthathe’dkillhismotherifhewent，andwhilehedidn’tkisshersooften，andtalksomuchassomeofus，Inevercouldseethathedidn’trunquiteasfasttogetherachairorsaveherastep。
　　HewassoslimandlighthecouldraceforthedoctorfasterthanLaddieorfather，eitherone。Ofcoursehelovedhismother，justasallofusdid；henever，nevercouldgoawayandnotletherknowaboutit。Ifhehadgone，thatwatchful-eyedman，whowaslameonlypartofthetime，hadtakenthegunandmadehimgo。IthoughtImightaswellsavethemoneyhe’doverlooked，soIgrippedittightinmyhand，andputitinmyapronpocket，thesameasIhadLaddie’snotetothePrincess，andstartedtothebarn，onthechancethatLeonmightbehiding。IknewpreciouswellIwould，ifIwereinhisplace。SoIhuntedthegranaries，thehaymow，thestalls，thenIstoodonthethreshingfloorandcried：“Leon！Ifyou’rehidingcomequick！Motherwillbesickwithworryingandfatherwillbesogladtoseeyou，hewon’tdoanythingmuch。Dopleasehurry！“
　　ThenIlistened，andallIcouldhearwasaratgnawingatacornerofthegranaryunderthehay。Mightaswellhavesaveditsteeth，itwouldstrikeastripoftinwhenitgotthrough，butofcourseitcouldn’tknowthat。ThenIwenttoeveryholearoundthehaystack，wherethecattlehadeaten；noneweredeepyet，liketheywouldbelaterintheseason，andallthewayI
　　beggedofLeontocomeout。Oncearoosterscreamed，flewinmyfaceandscaredmegood，butnoLeon；soItriedthecorncrib，theimplementshed，andthewoodhouse，climbingtheladderwiththemoneystillgrippedinonehand。ThenIslippedinthefrontdoor，upthestairs，andsearchedthegarret，evenawaybackwhereIdidn’tliketoverywell。AtlastIwenttothedining-
　　room，andIdon’tthinkeitherfatherormotherhadmoved，whileSabethanyturnedtostonelookedgoodcomparedwiththem。Seemedasifitwouldhavebeenbetterifthey’dcried，orscolded，oranythingbutjustsitthereastheydid，whenyoucouldseebytheirmovingonceinawhilethattheywerealive。InthekitchenCandaceandMayfinishedthemorningwork，andbothofthemcriedsteadily。IslippedtoMay，“Whosemoneywasit？“I
　　whispered。“Father’s，orthecounty’s，orthechurch’s？“
　　“Allthree，“saidMay。
　　“Thetravellertookit。“
　　“Howwouldhefindit？Noneofusknewtherewassuchaplacebefore。“
　　“Laddieseemedtoknow！“
　　“OhLaddie！Fathertrustshimabouteverything。“
　　“Theydon’tthinkHEtold？“
　　“Ofcoursenot，silly。It’sLeonwhoisgone！“
　　“LeonmayhavetoldabouttheStation！“Icried。“Hedidn’ttouchthemoney。Henevertouchedit！“
　　ThenIwentstraighttofather。Keepingasecretwasonething；
　　seeingtheonlyfatheryouhadlooklikethat，wasanother。I
　　heldoutthemoney。
　　“There’sonepieceoldEvenSodidn’tget，anyway，“Isaid。
　　“FounditontheflooroftheStation，whereitwasstucktothecan。AndIthoughtLeonmustbehidingforfearhe’dbewhippedfortelling，butI’vehuntedwhereweusuallyhide，andpromisedhimeverythingunderthesunifhe’dcomeout；buthedidn’t，soIguessthattravellermanmusthaveusedtheguntomakehimgoalong。“
　　Fathersatandstaredatme。Heneverofferedtotouchthemoney，notevenwhenIhelditagainsthishand。SoIsawthatmoneywasn’tthetrouble，elsehe’dhavelookedquickenoughtoseehowmuchIhad。TheywerethinkingaboutLeonbeinggone，atleastfatherwas。Mothercalledmetoherandasked：“YouknewabouttheStation？“
　　Inodded。
　　“When？“
　　“OnthewaybackfromtakingAmandaDeamherducksthissummer。“
　　“Leonwaswithyou？“
　　“Hefoundit。“
　　“Whatwereyoudoing？“
　　“Sittingonthefenceeatingapples。Wewerewonderingwhythatravineplacewasn’tcleanedup，wheneverywhereelsewas，andthenLeonsaidtheremightbeareason。Hetoldabouthavingseenablackman，andthathewashiddensomeplace，andwehuntedthereandfoundit。Werolledbackthestone，andopenedthedoor，andLeonwentin，andbothofussawacanfullofmoney。“
　　“Goon。“
　　“Wedidn’ttouchit，mother！Trulywedidn’t！Leonsaidwe’dfoundsomethingnotintendedforchildren，andwe’dbewhippedsickifweeverwentnearortold，andweneverdid，notevenonce，unlessLeonwantedtoboasttothetravellerman，butifheshowedhimtheplace，hethoughtsurethemoneyhadallbeenspentontheweddingandsendingShelleyaway。“
　　Father’sarmsshotout，andhisheadpitchedonthetable。
　　Mothergotupandbegantowalkthefloor，andneverwentnearoreventouchedhim。Icouldn’tbearit。Iwentandpulledhisarmandputthebillunderhishand。
　　“Leondidn’ttakeyourmoney！Hedidn’t！Hedidn’t！Ijustknowhedidn’t！Hedoestricksbecausetheyaresofunny，orhethinksthey’llbe，buthedoesn’tsteal！Hedoesn’ttouchasinglethingthatisnothis，onlymelons，orchickenoutoftheskillet，orbreadfromthecellar；butnotmoneyandthings。I
　　takegizzardsandbreadmyself，butIdon’tsteal，andLeonornoneofusdo！Ohfather，wedon’t！Notoneofusdo！Don’tyourememberabout`Thoushaltnot，’andtheCrusaders？Leon’sthebestfighterofanyofus。I’mnotsurethathecouldn’tevenwhipLaddie，ifhegotmadenough！Maybehecan’twhipthetravellerifhehasthegun，but，father，Leonsimplycouldn’ttakethemoney。Laddiewillstayhomeandwork，andallofus。
　　Wecanhelpgetitback。Wecansellalotofthings。LaddiewillsellFlosbeforehe’llseeyousufferso；andallofuswillgiveupChristmas，andwe’llwork！We’llworkashardaseverwecan，andmaybeyoucouldsparethelittlepieceJoeRisdellwantstobuildhiscabinon。Wecanmanageaboutthemoney，father，indeedwecan。Butyoudon’tdarethinkLeontookit！Heneverdid！Why，he’syours！Yoursandmother’s！“
　　Fatherliftedhisheadandreachedouthisarms。
　　“Youblessing！“hesaid。“YoublessingfromtheLord！“
　　Thenhegavemeacold，stiffkissontheforehead，wenttomother，tookherarm，andsaid：“Come，mommy，let’sgoandtelltheLordaboutit，andthenwe’lltrytomakesomeplan。PerhapsLaddiewillbebackwithwordsoon。“
　　Buthealmosthadtocarryher。Thenwecouldhearhimpraying，andhewassoanxious，andhemadeitsoearnestitsoundedexactlyliketheLordwasinourroomandfatherwastalkingrighttoHisface。Itriedtothink，andthisiswhatIthought：
　　asfatherlefttheroom，helookedexactlyasIhadseenMr。
　　Pryormorethanonce，andmymotherhadbothhandsgrippedoverherheart，andshesaidwemustnotletanyoneknow。NowifsomethingcouldhappentoustomakemyfatherlooklikethePrincess’andmymotherholdherheartwithbothhands，andifnooneweretoknowaboutitliketheyhadsaid，howwereweanydifferentfromPryors？WemightbeoftheLord’sanointed，butwecouldgetintothesamekindoftroubletheinfidelscould，andhavesecretsourselves，oratleastitseemedasifitmightbeverynearlythesame，whenitmadefatherandmotherlookandactthewaytheydid。Iwonderedifwe’dhavetoleaveourlovely，lovelyhome，crossaseaandbestrangersinastrangeland，asLaddiesaid；andifpeoplewouldtalkaboutus，andmakeusfeelthatbeingastrangerwastheloneliest，hardestthinginalltheworld。Well，ifmysteriesarelikethis，andwehavetolivewithonedaysandyears，theLordhavemercyonus！ThenI
　　sawthemoneylyingonthetable，soItookitandputitintheBible。ThenIwentoutandclimbedthecatalpatreetowatchforLaddie。
　　SoonIsawafunnything，suchasIneverbeforehadseen。
　　Comingacrossthefields，straighttowardourhouse，sailingoverthefenceslikeabird，camethePrincessononeofherhorses。