“But how do you expect to drive back all that distance with only one horse?  Did you sell the other, or only lend him?”

For a moment the man hesitated.  Then looking into the clear, tender eyes he said: 

“He had ter go, miss.  Everything’s gone ag’in me for over a year; I owed Steinberger fifty dollars; I couldn’t pay him; I’d given Salt fer s’curity.”

“Salt?” repeated Peggy in perplexity.

“Yes’m, Pepper’s mate.  I named ’em Pepper ’n Salt when they was young colts,” and a faint smile curved the speaker’s lips.  Peggy nodded and said: 

“Oh, I see.  That was clever.  They do look like pepper and salt.”

“Did,” corrected the man.  “There ain’t but one now.  But Salt were worth more ’n fifty dollars; yes, he were.”

 “He certainly was,” acquiesced Peggy.  “Do you want to sell Pepper too?”

“I’d sell my heart, miss, if I could get things fer Nell.”

“Who is Nell?”

“My girl, miss.  Nigh ‘bout yo’ age, I reckons, but not big an’ healthy an’ spry like yo’.  She’s ailin’ most o’ the time, but we’s mighty po,’ miss, mighty po’.  We ain’t allers been, but things have gone agin us pretty steady.  Last year the hail spoilt the crops, an’ oh well, yo’ don’t want ter hear ’bout my troubles.”

“I want to hear about any one’s troubles if I can help them.  How shall you get back to your place?”

“Reckon I’ll have ter onhitch an’ ride Pepper back, on’y I jist natchelly hate ter see Nell’s face when I get thar ’thout Salt.  She set sich store by them horses, an’ they’d foiler her anywheres.  I sort ter hate ter start, miss.”

“Listen to me,” said Peggy.  “What does Nell most need?”

“Huh!  Most need?  Most need?  Well if I started in fer ter tell what she most needs I reckon you’d be scart nigh ter death.  She needs everythin’ an’ seems like I can’t git nothin’.”

“Well what did you hope to get for her?” asked Peggy, making a random shot.

“Why she needs some shoes pretty bad, an’ the doctor said she ought ter have nourishin’ things ter eat, but, somehow, we can’t seem ter git many extras.”

“Will you go into the market and get what you’d like from Mr. Bodwell?  Here, give him this and tell him Miss Stewart sent you,” and hastily taking a card from her case, Peggy wrote upon it: 

“Please give bearer what is needed,” and signed her name.  “Get a good thick steak and anything else Nell would like.”

The man hesitated.  “But I ain’t askin’ charity, miss.”

“This is for Nell, and maybe I’ll buy Pepper—­if she will sell him,” flashed Peggy, with a radiant smile.

“I’ll do as yo’ tell me, miss.  Mebbe it’s Providence.  Nell always says:  ‘The good Lord’ll tell us how, Dad,’ an’ mebbe she’s right, mebbe she is,” and worn, weary, discouraged Jim Bolivar went toward the market.  During his absence Jess returned.