Jewel | Page 6

as if a steel rod took the place of a spine. That thick gray
hair and mustache of his might be steel threads."
"He's a splendid sight on horseback," responded Mrs. Forbes devoutly.
"His sons were neither of 'em ever the man he is. I'd like to protect him
from being imposed upon if such a thing was possible."
"Sho!" drawled 'Zekiel. "Might's well talk about protecting a
battleship."
"Well, 'Zekiel Forbes," returned his mother, her eyes bright, "can't you
imagine a battleship hesitating to run down a little pleasure yacht with
all its flags flying? And can't you imagine that hesitation costing the
battleship considerable precious time and money? You've said a good
deal about my sacrificing my room in the house and coming out here to
fix a little home for us both, upstairs in the barn chambers, but perhaps
you can see now that it isn't all sacrifice, that perhaps I'm glad of an
excuse to get out of the house, where things are so different from what
they used to be, and to have a cosy home with my own boy. Now then,
'Zekiel," coaxingly, these words recalling her boy's responsibilities,
"look over there once more and tell me which of those is the spider."
"Zekiel dropped the harness and laid his hand gently on his mother's
forehead. "There isn't anything there, dear mother," he said soothingly.
"Zeke!" she exclaimed, jerking away with a short reluctant laugh.
" 'Mother, dear mother, come home with me now,' " he roared
sentimentally, so that Essex Maid lifted her beautiful head and looked
out in surprise. "Remember Fanshaw, and put more water in it after
this," he added, dropping his arm to his mother's neck and capturing her
with a hug.
" 'Zekiel!" she protested. " 'Zekiel!"

CHAPTER II
THE CHICAGO LETTER
The mother was still laughing and struggling in the irresistible embrace
when both became aware that a third person was regarding them in
open-mouthed astonishment.
" 'Zekiel, let me /go/!" commanded the scandalized woman, and pushed
herself free from her tormentor, who forthwith returned rather
sheepishly to his buckles.
The young man with trim-pointed beard and mirthful eyes, who stood
in the driveway, had just dismounted from a shining buggy. Doubt and
astonishment were apparently holding him dumb.
The housekeeper, smoothing her disarranged locks and much flushed of
face, returned his gaze, rising from her chair.
"I couldn't believe it was you, Mrs. Forbes!" declared the newcomer.
"Fanshaw isn't--" He looked around vaguely.
"No, he isn't, Dr. Ballard," returned Mrs. Forbes shortly. "He forgot to
rub down Essex Maid one evening when she came in hot, and that
finished him with Mr. Evringham."
The young doctor's lips twitched beneath his mustache as he looked at
'Zekiel, polishing away for dear life.
"You seem to have some one else here--some friend," he remarked
tentatively.
"Friend!" echoed the housekeeper with exasperation, feeling to see just
how much Zeke had rumpled her immaculate collar. "We looked like
friends when you came up, didn't we!"
"Like intimate friends," murmured the doctor, still looking curiously at
the big fair-haired fellow, who was crimson to his temples.

"I don't know how long we shall continue friends if he ever grabs me
again like that just after I've put on a clean collar. He's got beyond the
place where I can correct him. I ought to have done it oftener when I
had the chance. This is my boy 'Zekiel, Dr. Ballard," with a proud
glance in the direction of the youth, who looked up and nodded, then
continued his labors. "Mr. Evringham has engaged him on trial. He's
been with horses a couple of years, and I guess he'll make out all right."
"Glad to know you, 'Zekiel," returned the doctor. "Your mother has
been a good friend of mine half my life, and I've often heard her speak
of you. Look out for my horse, will you? I shall be here half an hour or
so."
When the doctor had moved off toward the house Mrs. Forbes nodded
at her son knowingly.
"Might's well walk Hector into the barn and uncheck him, Zeke," she
said. "They'll keep him more'n a half an hour. That young man, 'Zekiel
Forbes,--that young man's my /hope/." Mrs. Forbes spoke impressively
and shook her forefinger to emphasize her words.
"What you hoping about him?" asked 'Zekiel, laying down the harness
and proceeding to lead the gray horse up the incline into the barn.
"Shouldn't wonder a mite if he was our deliverer," went on Mrs. Forbes.
"I saw it in Mrs. Evringham's eye that he suited her, the first night that
she met him here at dinner. I like him first-rate, and I don't mean him
any harm; but he's one of these young doctors with plenty of money