It wasn't so easy, once I struck in on that side road, but I managed to pedal along somehow." "There are a number of houses on that road, I chance to know, Hugh; the Simms live there, likewise the Thompsons and the Garrabrants." "I managed to reach those three houses," Hugh continued; "but it didn't pay me, so far as results went, though I enjoyed the run all right." "From that I imagine nobody had seen the woman and child yesterday afternoon coming along that particular road, eh, Hugh ?" "No one could remember having met or seen such a person," Hugh told him; "and as strangers are uncommon in these parts they would surely have noticed her if she passed their doors.

So I came to the conclusion, as I couldn't even find the marks of her shoes in the snow along the road, that she must have come over from Belleville way, and was in the woods at the time I first went by, which would account for my not meeting her." "To change the subject, Hugh, I notice that Nick still fights shy of the rest of the crowd these days.

He was skating on the ice to-day; but absolutely declined to take part in the game; though Mr.Leonard, wanting to make the opposition as strong as possible so as to put us to our best licks, went over and talked with him, trying to coax Nick to join the line-up.

What makes him act that way, Hugh?
One would think Nick'd be glad of the chance to play." "He would, Thad, he certainly would, because he enjoys hockey as much as you or myself; but I reckon Nick, for the first time in all his life, finds himself afflicted with shyness.

You see, he knows people don't, as a rule, believe in this sudden reformation.