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。