Where you been, girl ?" Sprague was a little, stoop-shouldered old man, with grizzled head and face, and shrewd gray eyes that beamed kindly on her over his ruddy cheeks.

Ellen did not like the tobacco stain on his grizzled beard nor the dirty, motley, ragged, ill-smelling garb he wore, but she had ceased her useless attempts to make him more cleanly.
"I've been herdin' sheep," replied Ellen.

"And where have y'u been, uncle?
I missed y'u on the way over." "Been packin' in some grub.

An' I reckon I stayed longer in Grass Valley than I recollect.

But thet was only natural, considerin'-- " "What ?" asked Ellen, bluntly, as the old man paused.
Sprague took a black pipe out of his vest pocket and began rimming the bowl with his fingers.