Really, I believe we ought to know each other better." Clem had once found occasion to say, "When Miss Cahline tek th' notion to shine huh eyes up, she sho' is a highly illuminous puhsonality." I saw then what he meant, for Miss Caroline had "shined" her eyes, and they flooded me with a distracting medley of lights.

I thought she struggled very uncertainly with herself.

Her eyes shifted from my face to the empty sleeve.

Twice before that evening--I remembered it had been when she spoke so enigmatically of the lumber industry--her eyes had rested there briefly, discreetly, but in all sympathy.

Now the look was different.