Frederick paused, his hand on the banister.
"By the way, I shall want your assistance in the little matter I spoke of."
CHAPTER XXV
THE SUMMONS
Jake Brewer paused in the lane opposite Skinner's home. The shanty was almost snowed in. A thin curl of smoke trailed up from the chimney and drifted among the leafless branches of the willow trees.
Brewer dropped a pair of dead rabbits to the deep snow at his side, and shifted the gun he held in his right hand to his left. Then, he fumbled in his overcoat pockets. Discovering what he wanted, he picked up the rabbits and walked through the path to the hut.
Tess took down the bar at his rap.
"Lot o' snow, Tessie," smiled Brewer. "Here, I brought ye some letters."
Tessibel took the two letters the fisherman handed her.
"They got yer name writ on 'em, brat," said he, knocking the snow from his boots against the clap boards. "That's how I knowed they was your'n."
A shadowy smile flitted over the squatter girl's face.
"Sure, they be fer me," she replied. She turned the letters over in her hands. "Thank ye, Jake, fer bringin' 'em.... Come in a minute, won't ye?"
"Sure, an' I air always glad to do somethin' fer ye, kid.... How's yer pa this mornin'?"
Brewer stepped into the hut, placed his gun and the rabbits in the corner, and spread his hands over the stove.
"He ain't so well today, Jake! Poor Daddy, he suffers somethin' awful with his heart, Daddy does.... It air rheumatism."
"Ever try eel skins, brat?" asked Brewer, sitting down. "My grandma wore a eel skin for rheumatiz for twenty-five years, an' Holy Moses, the sufferin' that woman had durin' 'em times my tongue ain't able to tell!"
Tess glanced at the letters in her hand half-heartedly.
"We've tried 'em, too, Jake," she answered. "Daddy's been wrapped in 'em night after night. But they don't seem to do no good."
"D'ye ever have Ma Moll incant over him, Tessie?"
Tessibel nodded her head.
"Yep, I give 'er three dollars for ten incants an' they didn't do no good uther." She went a step nearer Brewer. "But I air prayin' hard, Jake, every day for 'im," she confided softly.
Brewer nodded his head.
"I guess that air better'n incants any time if ye can do it, kid," he smiled.
"I guess so, too," agreed the girl. "Tell Miss Brewer I'll be to see her soon as the weather gits better."
Jake got up, scratched his head, and thought a moment.
"I might leave ye a rabbit, seein' yer daddy ain't well 'nough to do no gunnin'," said he.
"Ye're awful good, Jake," murmured Tessibel, following the man to the door. "Stop in any day."
"All right," and Jake struck out toward the rock path.
Tess closed the door and put up the bar. Andy was eyeing her from the ceiling.
"What ye got, kid?" he whispered.
Tess held up the letters.
"Two of 'em, an' this one air from Mr. Young. Shall I read it to ye, Andy?" she asked, looking up.
The little man chuckled with joy.
"I'd like to hear it," said he.
Tess drew a chair under the boyish face peering upon her, and sat down.
"Dear Tessibel," she read.
"I hoped to be home this week, but find my work won't be finished.
Please keep at your books and study hard. Get the doctor any time you need him for your father. I know you're trying to be a brave little girl, and may God bless you.
Affectionately, Deforrest Young."
Tessibel choked on the last word.
"It air awful hard to be brave, Andy," she faltered, brushing away a tear.
The dwarf made a dash at his own eyes.
"Ye got another letter," he cut in irrelevantly.
"Yep," said Tess.
After pulling forth the second sheet, she spread it out and read it through without looking up.
"Miss Tessibel Skinner:
"It is necessary for you to attend a church meeting next Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock in the chapel. Please oblige,
"SILANDER GRIGGS, _Pastor_."
"Anything much?" demanded the dwarf, interestedly.