Before long she knew and everybody else knew that the man who had been seen at Charlotte's window was not Barney, but Thomas Payne.
Presently Ephraim came slowly across to the garden-patch where Barney was planting.

He was breathing heavily, and grinning.

When he reached Barney he stood still watching him, and the grin deepened.

"Say, Barney," he panted at length.
"Well, what is it ?" "You've lost your girl; did you know it, Barney ?" Barney muttered something unintelligible; it sounded like the growl of a dog, but Ephraim was not intimidated.

He chuckled with delight and spoke again.