Chapter XVII.
A Night on the Creek.
John Bishop worked in his shop as usual the morning that Ruth left her step-father's house with Robert Pearson; and not for an instant did he give a look or utter a word indicative of his busy thoughts. To the world he appeared resigned, giving heed to that inward voice that was reproving him for his errors in regard to Ruth, so Friend Bunting thought; for after failing to see Ruth's mother, she had called at the shop, with the flimsiest of excuses on her lips and her real purpose showing clearly in her every word and action. All went well for a while, and John did not lose his temper, but as the day drew to a close, he was finally roused to a pitch of excitement, and told his hired men he would close the shop early and they might go. He felt that he must be alone
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