Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/33

Rh bow handed one to the little Mina and the other to her mother, whom he had already greeted.

"I don't know very much about the taste of the ladies, but they seem to be somewhat alike," he added laughingly, as with eager hands his gifts were opened and brightly colored ribbons were disclosed in each.

At Dirck's suggestion, however, the little party was speedily seated at the rude table upon which Mistress Rykman had already placed the smoking supper. A lighted candle added its pleasing effect to the plain but tempting fare, and the men were all speedily doing ample justice to the culinary skill of their hostess.

"You 're a stranger in these parts, I see."

Robert looked up quickly as the other visitor spoke, and in the light he could see that the man was keenly regarding him.

"What makes you say that?"

The stranger laughed as he replied, "Your question would be answer enough of itself, if there was n't any other reason for thinking so. The people on the shores of the Hudson don't answer one question by asking another." "By the same token one would know that you did not belong here, either."