Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill; Or, Jasper Parloe's Secret

, and an hour after she had arrived she knew that she would love it. The Lumano River was a wide stream and from the little

ared he was not honest. When the mill owner was obliged to be absent and people had come to have corn or wheat ground, paying for the milling instead of giving toll, Jasper had sometimes kept

e the first meal was prepared. She was of much assistance, too, and when Uncle Jabez came in, after washing at the pump, but brin

le with her back and bones. If you make yourself of use to her you can stay here. I expect all cats to catch mice arou

could save by her. It was plain enough that Uncle Jabez Potter was as saving as a person could possibly be. There was none too much food on the tabl

nor was he very clean. But naturally the mill-dust would stick to him and to his clothing. It seemed to have worke

to rain and she could not go out, went into the mill to quench her curiosity regarding it. She saw that there was a tiny office over the water, with a fireproof safe in

rges for transportation to Osago Lake, some miles away. There were great bins of wheat and corn, many elevator pipes, several mills turning al

he house. As she sat with Aunt Alvirah, and sewed carpet-rags for a braided mat, the dist

rain that drove along the valley she saw the gray automobile coming slowly past the mill. There was a man driving it

s instead of for only a few hours. "Colfax wanted to drive down to the station alone for Daddy-for we won't bring poor Tom home in this rain-b

erfully: "He hasn't eaten me up yet! And Aunt Al

kes you

rse she

nd she shook her head. "But there! I must run. We don't want to be late for the t

ever so mach better," cried Ruth, a

morrow, if it quits raining," re

ep that first night as well as she had in the charitable home of the station master and his good wife. The evening meal had been as stiff and unpleasant as the noon meal. The evening was spent in the same

under Uncle Jabez's arm at dinner, too. He scarcely seemed willing to trust it out

de Uncle Jabez's bed. Ruth was much more afraid of these loaded weapons than she was of burglars. But the old man evidently expected to be att

Darrowtown, and her long journey here, and her cold welcome to what she supposed would be her future home. Without Helen, and without Aunt Alvirah, she kn

is until it had already rained several days, and the roaring of the waters fretting a

son's, the old doctor himself stopped at the mill and shouted for Jabez to come out. The doctor drov

in no very friendly way. Ruth, standing at the open door

o you know how the r

ned the mil

that, if Minturn should break, she'd have free sweep here and so do less damage below? Let

rn dam will burst, Dr. Davis

. I'm only advisin

rouble-and no water for the summer, perhaps. They

sking your own

Dr. Davison," said Pot

e other peopl

"I have enough to do to attend to my own concern

ater; eh?" said the old doctor, cheerfully. "Well,

nd the mud spattered from his wheels