“There! Get out, get out!” said Mr. Childers, thrusting his young friend from the room, rather in the prairie manner. “Tight-Jeff or Slack-Jeff, it don’t much signify: it’s only tightrope and slack-rope. You were going to give me a message for Jupe?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Then,” continued Mr. Childers, quickly, “my opinion is, he will never receive it. Do you know much of him?”

“I never saw the man in my life.”

“I doubt if you ever will see him now. It’s pretty plain to me, he’s off.”

“Do you mean that he has deserted his daughter?”