Chapter 11

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌⁠Elsie Banks

Aderson Crow stood afar off—among the bleak, leafless trees of Badger's Grove—and gazed thoughtfully, even earnestly, upon the little red schoolhouse with its high brick chimney and snow-clad roof. A biting January wind cut through his whiskers and warmed his nose to a half-broiled shade of red. On the lapel of his overcoat glistened his social and official badges, augmented by a new an