Itslegsstretchedoutsofaritsbodyalmosttouchedtheground，anditliftedupandsweptovertherails。Shetookourmeadowfencelengthwiselike，andatthehitchingrackshethrewthebridleoverthepost，dismounted，andthenIsawshehadbeenridingastride，likeaman。Iranbeforeherandopenedthesitting-roomdoor，butnoonewasthere，soIwentontothedining-room。Fatherhadcomein，andmotherwassittinginherchair。BothofthemlookedatthePrincessandneversaidaword。
　　Shestoppedinsidethedining-roomdoorandspokebreathlessly，asifsheaswellasthehorsehadraced。
　　“IhopeI’mnotintruding，“shesaid，“butamannorthofustoldourThomasinthevillagethatrobbershadtakenquitealargesumofhiddenmoneyyouheldforthecounty，andchurch，andofyourown，andyourgun，andgotawaywhileyouwereatchurchlastnight。Isittrue？“
　　“Practically，“saidmyfather。
　　Thenmymothermotionedtowardachair。
　　“Youarekindtocome，“shesaid。“Won’tyoubeseated？“
　　ThePrincesssteppedtothechair，butshegrippedthebackinbothhandsandstoodstraight，breathingfast，hereyesshiningwithexcitement，herlipsandcheeksred，solovelyyoujusthadtolook，andlook。
　　“No，“shesaid。“I’lltellyouwhyIcame，andthenifthereisnothingIcandohere，andnoerrandIcanrideforyou，I’llgo。
　　Motherhashearttrouble，theworstinalltheworld，thekindnodoctorcaneverhopetocure，andsometimes，mostlyatnight，sheisdriventohaveoutsideair。Lastnightshewasunusuallyill，andIheardherleavethehouse，afterI’dgonetomyroom。I
　　watchedfrommywindowandsawhertakeaseatonabenchunderthenearesttree。IwasmovingaroundandoftenIlookedtoseeifshewerestillthere。Thenthedogsbegantorave，andI
　　hurrieddown。Theyusedtorunfree，butlately，onaccountofhergoingout，fatherhasbeenforcedtotiethematnight。Theywerestrainingattheirchains，andbarkingdreadfully。Imetheratthedoor，butshewouldonlysaysomeonepassedandgaveherafright。WhenThomascameinandtoldwhathehadheard，shesaidinstantlythatshehadseentheman。
　　“ShesaidhewasaboutthesizeofThomas，thathecamefromyourdirection，thatheranwhenourdogsbarked，buthekeptbesidethefences，andclimbedoverwherethereweretrees。Hecrossedourbarnyardandwenttowardthenorthwest。Mothersawhimdistinctlyashereachedtheroad，andshesaidhewasnotalargeman，hestoopedwhenheran，andshethoughthemovedlikeaslinking，citythief。Sheissurehe’sthemanwhotookyourmoney；shesaysheactedexactlyasifheweretryingtoescapepursuit；butIwastobeSUREtotellyouthathedidn’tcarryagun。Ifyourgunisgone，theremusthavebeentwo，andtheothermantookthatandwentadifferentway。Didtwomenstophere？“
　　“No，“saidfather。“Onlyone。“
　　ThePrincesslookedathimthoughtfully。
　　“Doyouthink，Mr。Stanton，“shesaid，“thatthemanwhotookthemoneywouldburdenhimselfwithagun？Isn’tarifleheavyforoneinflighttocarry？“
　　“Itis，“saidfather。“Yourmothersawnothingoftwomen？“
　　“Onlyone，andsheknowshedidn’tcarryagun。Exceptthemanyoutookin，nostrangerhasbeennoticedaroundherelately？“
　　“Noone。Wearequitecareful。Eventhegunwasnotloadedasitstood；whoevertookitcarriedtheammunitionalso，buthecouldn’tfireuntilheloaded。“
　　Fatherturnedtothecornerwherethegunalwaysstoodandthenhestoopedandpickeduptwolittlewhitesquaresfromthefloor。
　　Theywerebitsofunbleachedmuslininwhichhewrappedthebulletshemade。
　　“Theriflewasloadedbeforestarting，andinahurry，“hesaid，asheheldupthesquaresofmuslin。Thenhescratchedamatch，bent，andranitbackandforthoverthefloor，andatoneplacetherewasaflash，andtheflamewentaroundinfunnylittlefizzesasitcaughtagrainofpowderhereandthere。“Youseethemeasurewasoverrun。“
　　“Wouldn’tthemannaturallythinkthegunwasloaded，andtakeitasitstood？“
　　“Thatwouldbeareasonableconclusion，“saidfather。
　　“Buthelooked！“Icried。“Thatfirstnightwhenyouandtheboyswenttothebarn，andthegirlsweregettingsupper，helookedatthegun，andheLIKEDitwhenhesawitwasn’tloaded。
　　Hesmiled。Andhedidn’tlimpamitewhenIwastheonlyoneintheroom。HeandLeonknewitwasn’tloaded，andIguesshedidn’tloadit，forhelikedhavingitemptysowell。“
　　“Ummmm！“saidfather。“Whatitwouldsaveinthisworldifachildonlyknewwhentotalkandwhentokeepstill。LittleSister，thenexttimeyouseeastrangerexaminemygunwhenI’mnotintheroom，supposeyoutakefatheroutaloneandwhispertohimaboutit。“
　　“Yes，sir，“Isaid。
　　ThewayIwishedIhadtoldthatattherighttimemademedizzy，butthentherewereseveralgoodswitchingsI’dhadfortellingthings，besideswhatSallydidtomeaboutherandPeter。I
　　wouldhaveenjoyedknowinghowonecouldbesure。Hereafter，itwillbeallrightaboutthegun，anyway。
　　“CouldItakemyhorseandcarryamessageanywhereforyou？Arebothyoursonsridingtotelltheneighbours？“
　　Fatherhesitated，butitseemedasifhestoppedtothink，soI
　　justtoldher：“Laddieisriding。Leondidn’ttakeahorse。“
　　Fathersaidtherewasnothingshecoulddo，soshetookmyhandandwestartedforthegate。
　　“Idohopetheywillfindhim，andgetbackthemoney，andgivehimwhathedeserves！“shecried。
　　“Yes，fatherandmotherareprayingthatthey’llfindhim，“I
　　said。“Itdoesn’tseemtomaketheleastdifferencetothemaboutthemoney。Fatherdidn’tevenlookatabigpaperpieceI
　　foundwhereitwashidden。Buttheyareanxiousabouttheman。
　　Mothersaysheissoyoung，wejustmustfindhim，andkeepthisasecret，andgivehimanotherchance。Youwon’ttell，willyou？“
　　ThePrincessstoodstillonourwalk，andthenofallthings！ifshedidn’tbegintogoSabethany-like。Thecolourlefthercheeksandlipsandsheshiveredandshookandneversaidoneword。Icaughtherarm。“Say，whatailsyou？“Icried。“Youhaven’tgoneandgothearttroubletoo，haveyou？“
　　Shestoodtheretrembling，andthen，wheelingsuddenly，ranbackintothehouse，andwenttomymother。Onherknees，thePrincessburiedherfaceinmother’sbreastandsaid：“OhMrs。
　　Stanton！Oh，ifIonlycouldhelpyou！“
　　Shebegantocryasifsomethinginsideherhadbroken，andshe’dshaketopieces。
　　Motherstaredaboveherheadatfather，withhereyebrowsraisedhigh，andhewavedhishandtowardme。Motherturnedtome，butalreadyshehadputherarmsaroundthePrincess，andwastryingtoholdhertogether。
　　“Whatdidyoutellherthatmadehercomeback？“sheaskedsternlike。
　　“Youforgottoexplainthatthemanwassoyoung，andyouwantedtokeepitasecretandgivehimanotherchance，“Isaid。“I
　　justaskedhernottotell。“
　　Motherlookedatfatherandallthecolourwentfromherface，andshebegantoshake。Hestaredather，thenheopenedherdoorandliftedthePrincesswithonearm，andmotherwiththeother，andhelpedthemintomother’sroom，steppedbackandclosedthedoor。Afterawhileitopenedandtheycameouttogether，withbothmother’sarmsaroundthePrincess，andshehadcrieduntilshestaggered。Motherliftedherfaceandkissedher，whentheyreachedthedoorandsaid：“TellyourmotherI
　　understandenoughtosympathize。Carryhermylove。IdowishshewouldgiveherselfthecomfortofaskingGodtohelpher。“
　　“Shedoes！Oh，I’msureshedoes！“saidthePrincess。“It’sfatherwhohaslostalljudgmentandreason。“
　　Fatherwentwithhertothegate，andthistimesheneededhelptomountherhorse，andsheleftittochooseitswayandgowhereitpleasedontheroad。Whenfathercameinhelookedatmother，andshesaid：“Ihaven’tthedetails，butsheunderstandstoowell。ThePryormysteryisn’tmuchofamysteryanymore。Godhelptheirpoorsouls，andsaveusfromsufferinglikethat！“
　　Shesaidsolittleandmeantsomuch，Icouldn’tfigureoutexactlywhatshedidmean，butfatherseemedtounderstand。
　　“I’veoftenwondered，“hesaid，buthedidn’tsaywhathewondered，andhehurriedtothebarnandsaddledourbesthorseandcameinandbegangettingreadytoride，andweknewhewouldgonorthwest。Iwentbacktothecatalpatreeandwonderedmyself；butitwastoomuchformetostraightenout：justwhymymotherwantingtogivethetravellermananotherchancewouldmakethePrincessfeellikethat。IfshehadknownmymotherasIdid，she’dhaveknownthatsheALWAYSwantedtogiveeverymanasecondchance，nomatterwhetherhewasyoungorold。
　　ThenIsawLaddiecomingdowntheBigHillbesidethechurch，buthewasridingsofastIthoughthewouldn’twanttobotherwithme，soIslidfromthetree，andrantotellmother。Shewenttothedoorandwatchedasherodeup，butyoucouldseebyhisfacehehadnotheardofthem。
　　“Nothing，butIhavesomemenout。Iamgoingeastnow，“hesaid。“Iwish，father，youwouldrubFlosdown，blankether，andifyoucan，walkherslowlyanhourwhileshecoolsoff。IamafraidI’veruinedher。Howmuchhadyouthere？“
　　“Ihaven’tstoppedtofigure，“saidfather。“IthinkI’dbettertakethehorseIhavereadyandgoononeofthenorthwestroads。
　　ThePryorgirlwashereafewmomentsago，andhermothersawamancrosstheirplaceabouttherighttimelastevening。Heranandactedsuspiciouslywhenthedogsbarked。Buthewasaloneandhedidn’thaveagun。“
　　“Wasshesure？“
　　“Positive。“
　　“Thenitcouldn’thavebeenourman，butI’llrideinthatdirectionandstartasearch。Theywouldkeeptothewoods，I
　　think！You’dbetterstaywithmother。I’llaskJacobHoodtotakeyourplace。“
　　SoLaddierodeawayagainwithoutevengoingintothehouse，andmothersaidtofather：“Whatcanhebesayingtopeople，thattheneighboursdon’tcome？“
　　Fatheranswered：“Idon’tknow，butifanyonecansavethesituation，Laddiewill。“
　　Motherwenttobed，whilefathersatbesideherreadingaloudlittlescrapsfromtheBible，andtheytookturnspraying。FromthewaytheytalkedtotheLord，youcouldplainlyseethattheywereremindingHimofallthepromisesHehadmadetotakecareofpeople，comfortthoseintrouble，andhealthebroken-hearted。
　　Onethingwassocurious，IaskedMayifshenoticed，andshehad。Whentheyhadmadesuchafussaboutmoneyonlyashortwhilebefore，andworkedsohardtogetoursharetogether，andwhentheywouldhavetopaybackallthatbelongedtothecountyandchurch，neitherofthemeverevenmentionedmoneythen。
　　EveryminuteIexpectedfathertoaskwhereI’dputthepieceI
　　found，andwhenheopenedrightatit，intheBible，heturnedonpast，exactlyasifitwereanobituary，orapieceofSally’sweddingdress，orbabyhairfromsomeofourheads。HewentonhuntingplaceswheretheLordsaidsureandstrongthatHe’dhelppeoplewholovedHim。Wheneitherofthemprayed，theyaskedtheLordtohelpthosenearthemwhowereintrouble，asoftenandearnestlyastheybeggedHimtohelpthem。Therewerenopeoplenearuswhowereintroublethatweknewof，exceptingPryors。
　　Hardasfatherandmotherworked，you’dhavethoughttheLordwouldn’thavemindediftheyaskedonlyoncetogetthemoneyback，oriftheyforgottheneighbours，buttheydidneitherone。
　　Maysaidbecausetheywerebiglikethatwaswhyallofuslovedthemso。
　　Iwouldalmostfreezeinthecatalpa，butasIcouldseefarinalldirectionsthere，Iwentback，andwatchedtheroads，andwhenIrememberedwhatLaddiehadsaid，Ikeptaneyeonthefieldstoo。Atalmostdusk，andfrozensostiffIcouldscarcelyhangtothelimb，IheardthebulldogsatPryors’begintorave。
　　Theykeptonsteadily，andIthoughtGypsiesmustbepassing。
　　ThenfromthewoodscameaqueerpartythatstartedacrossthecornfieldtowardtheBigMeadowinfrontofthehouse，andI
　　thoughttheywerehunters。Istoodinthetreeandwatcheduntiltheyclimbedthemeadowfence，andbythattimeIcouldseeplainly。
　　Thetravellermangotoverfirst，thenLeonandthedogs，andthenMr。PryorhandedLeonthegun，leapedover，andtookit。I
　　lookedagain，andthenfellfromthetreeandalmostbursted。AssoonasIcouldgetup，andbreathe，Irantothefrontdoor，screaming：“Father！Father！ComeopentheBigGate。Leon’sgothim，buthe’ssotiredMr。Pryoriscarryingthegun，andhelpinghimwalk！“
　　Justlikeone，allofusran；fathercrossedtheroad，andopenedthegate。Thetravellermanwouldn’tlookup，hejustslouchedalong。ButLeon’schinwasupandhisheadhigh。Hewasscratched，torn，anddirty。Hewaswheezingeverybreathmostfromhisknees，andMr。Pryorhalfcarriedhimandthegun。Whentheymetus，Leonreachedinhistrouserspocketanddrewoutabigrollofmoneythatheheldtowardfather。“Myfault！“hegasped。“ButIgotitbackforyou。“
　　Thenhefelloverandfathercaughthiminhisarmsandcarriedhimintothehouse，andlaidhimonthecouchinthedining-room。
　　Mr。Pryorgotdownandgatheredupthemoneyfromtheroad。Hefollowedintothehouseandsettheguninthecorner。
　　“Don’tbefrightened，“hesaidtomother。“Theboyhaswalkedallnight，andallday，withnosleeporfood，andthegunwasaheavyloadforhim。Igatheredfromwhathesaid，whenthedogsletusknowtheywerecoming，thatthishoundtookyourmoney。
　　Yourdogbarkedandawakenedtheboyandheloadedthegunandfollowed。Thefellowhadagoodstartandhedidn’tgethimuntilneardaybreak。It’sbeenastiffpullfortheyoungsterandheseemstofeelitwashisfaultthatthiscowardlycuryoushelteredlearnedwhereyoukeptyourmoney。Ifthatistrue，I
　　hopeyouwon’tbehardonhim！“
　　FatherwasunfasteningLeon’sneckband，motherwasrubbinghishands，Candacewastakingoffhisshoes，andMaywasspillingwaterfatherhadcalledfor，alloverthecarpet，sheshookso。
　　WhenLeondrewadeepbreathandhisheadrolledonthepillow，fatherlookedatMr。Pryor。Idon’tthinkheheardallofit，buthecaughtthelastwords。
　　“`Hardonhim！Hardonhim！’“hesaid，thetearsrollingdownhischeeks。“`Thismyson，whowaslost，isfound！’“
　　“Oh！“shoutedMr。Pryor，slammingthemoneyonthetable。“Poordriveltofitthecircumstances。IfIstoodinyourboots，sir，IwouldriseupinthemightystrengthofmyprideandpulloutfoundationstonesuntilIshookthenation！IneverenviedmortalmanasIenvyyouto-day！“