His affection for the Reynolds family was scarcely second to his boyish love for Mr.and Mrs.Burns.
It was dark before they came in sight of the light in the narrow valley of the Mink.

"There's the camp," said Reynolds.

"No, I didn't build it; it's an old ranch; in fact, I bought the whole outfit." Mrs.Reynolds had not changed at all in the three years, but Cora had grown handsomer and seemed much less timid, though she blushed vividly as Mose shook her hand.
"I'm glad to see you back," she said.
Moved by an unusual emotion, Mose replied: "You haven't pined away any." "Pined!" exclaimed her mother.

"Well, I should say not.

You should see her when Jim Haynes----" "Mother!" called the girl sharply, and Pink, now a beautiful child of eight, came opportunely into the room and drew the conversation to herself.
As Mose, with Pink at his knee, sat watching the two women moving about the table, a half-formed resolution arose in his brain.