Because he might use his knowledge to betray things for money? Betray what things?
Thus, while Kincheloe was talking to her, she was thinking about her grandfather. She heard him come into the hall several times and turn the telephone bell handle, in vain attempt to call the cabin; for the hour was long past when Asa Redbird should have returned from the railroad. Ethel had learned that part of Asa's errand to Quesnel was to fetch a telegram which her grandfather expected from her uncle Lucas in Chicago. It had not arrived in the morning; and it proved to have been so delayed that every one was at supper when Asa at last returned with a brief message which—like all Cullen business telegrams that had to pass the little country offices—was in a business code.
Lucas at once left the table and, with Miss Platt, went into his office to decipher the brief communication from his son. When he returned to the table, it was so plain that he had exciting news that his wife could not repress her question:
"Something has happened in Chicago, Lucas?"
"Nothing," he denied, and he gulped half a cup of tea, hot. "Nothing at all," he repeated so emphatically that his wife said no more. Ethel offered no comment; she watched Kincheloe as Miss Platt returned to her seat.
He was trying to catch his wife's glance; but Miss Platt avoided looking at him.
"Asa saw several foxes about," she said casually to Ethel; "I suppose they're after our chickens; the foxes are unusually numerous and bold this year, it seems."
"So Naomi told me," Ethel replied. Her grandfather was taking another cup of tea, and she was
