"Oh, my story is such an ordinary one I can tell it while I light a candle for these young ladies," laughed their host, not at all angry at Skeeter's curiosity, although Lil and Lucy were half dead of embarrassment when Skeeter came out so flat-footed with the question which was almost bubbling over on their lips, but which they felt they must not put.
"I am a successful manufacturer---- I have made enough money selling clothes pins and ironing boards and butter tubs to stop. In fact, I stopped many years ago and now I do nothing but enjoy myself in my own way."
"Trying to help a little. In the winter I live in New York and teach the boys' clubs on the East Side, and in the summer I am spring-keeper in the mountains."
"But isn't your name Mr. Spring-keeper?" asked Lil.
"No, my dear, spring-keeping is my occupation. My name is Walter McRae. Here is your candle, and pleasant dreams."
"Won't you tell us some more about yourself?" asked Lucy as she took the candle from him.
"Another time! Anything so dry as my story will keep."
"Isn't this grand?" were the last words both of our girls uttered as they rolled into the bunks that had been made up with fresh, lavender-scented linen. The brigands had captured them certainly and their adventure was complete. The boys were sleeping on the porch in hammocks. Mr. McRae always slept on the porch unless weather drove him in, and Tom Tit had a little room that he loved, where he kept his treasures, all those he did not put in the hole in the mountain.
Dawn found the babes in the wood much refreshed. The boys were up and out early, helping Tom Tit milk the cow and chop wood. Mr. McRae had started the cooking of breakfast when Lucy and Lil appeared.
"We are so ashamed to be late but we almost slept our heads off," they apologized. "Now let us help!"
"All right, set the table and skim the milk and get the butter out of the dairy." The dairy was a cave dug in the side of the mountain where all their food was kept cool in summer and warm in winter. "We shall breakfast on the porch."
The girls made all haste and set the table with great care.
"Let's get him to tell us all about himself this morning," whispered Lucy. "I'm dying to hear about him. Isn't he romantic?"