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！“