"
Leading her horse, Quincy and Alice went to the Hawkins House.
"He takes it pretty cool," said Strout to Hiram. "If she was my
sister I'd ring the church hell, make up a party, and go in search of
her dead body, for that's what they'll come back with."
"I don't take no stock in that," remarked Hiram. "She's used to
horses, and she's a mighty bright, independent girl. She'll come home
all right."
"No doubt she's independent enough," retorted Strout. "That runs in
the family. But the horse, it seems, was independent too. Perhaps the
Guv'nor will have a boxing match with him for his independence to a
Sawyer."
As Hiram went back into the store he said to himself: "That Strout's
only a half-converted sinner anyway. He'll never forget the thrashing
that Mr. Sawyer gave his man, Bob Wood."
Quincy had Alice go to her room, for she was agitated and extremely
nervous, and he asked Mrs. Hawkins to look out for her until his
return.
With Andrew's help, the carryall was soon ready and Quincy drove to
the store. What was his surprise to find Maude there, still on her
horse, and apparently uninjured. With her, also on horseback was an
attractive girl, a stranger to Quincy.
"I'm all right, Quincy," Maude cried as he alighted, "but there would
have been a funeral but for this young lady."
Quincy, with hat in hand, bowed to the stranger.
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