Summers came to the verandah and greeted Chris with warmth.
'Eli, but ye're pale, lassie,' he said, having drawn her into the light.
'Take her in,' whispered Harry; 'she's quite worn out.' 'Will ye no come in yersel' ?' 'No, no, thanks.

Come back here, Mr.Summers; I want to speak to you.' Summers led the girl into the house and returned after a few moments.
'What's happened tae the girl?
She's not herself at all,' he said.
'Her father's been taken.' 'Ay, have they got him?
Weel, 'twas sure to be.' ''Twas she who hid him, but he went light-headed with some sickness, an' the police came down on him.

She feels it awfully, poor girl, being alone in a way.' 'Not alone, not while Jock Summers moves an' has his bein'.' Harry had been fishing for this.

He knew the man, and that his simple word meant as much as if it had been chiselled deep in marble.
'Good night,' he said, throwing out an impetuous hand.

While he hastened away under the trees Summers stood upon the door-sill, gazing after him, ruefully shaking the tingling fingers of his right hand.
Harry returned to the skillion and loitered about for ten minutes without discovering anything of Dick Haddon, but at the expiration of that time Dick stole out of the darkness and approached him with an affectation of the greatest unconcern.