able, where he wrote briefly
his reply to Mr. Taine. When he had finished, he handed his letter to the
older man, who read:

Dear Sir:

In reply to yours of the 13th, inst., enclosing your check in payment
for the portrait of Mrs. Taine; I appreciate your generosity, but
cannot, now, accept it.

I find, upon further consideration, that the portrait does not fully
satisfy me. I shall, therefore, keep the canvas until I can, with the
consent of my own mind, put my signature upon it.

Herewith, I am returning your check; for, of course, I cannot accept
payment for an unfinished work.

In a day or two, Mr. Lagrange and I will start to the mountains, for an
outing. Trusting that you and your family will enjoy the season at Lake
Silence I am, with kind regards,

Yours sincerely, Aaron King.

* * * * *

That evening, the two men talked over their proposed trip, and laid their
plans to start without delay As Conrad Lagrange put it--they would lose
themselves in the hills; with no definite destination in view; and no set
date for their return. Also, he stipulated that they should travel
light--with only a pack burro to carry their supplies--and that they
should avoid the haunts of the summer resorters, and keep to the more
unfrequented trails. The novelist's acquaintance with the country into
which they would go, and his experience in woodcraft--gained upon many
like expeditions in the lonely wilds he loved--would make a guide
unnecessary. It would be a new experience for Aaron King; and, as the
novelist talked, he found himself eager as a schoolboy for the trip; while
the distant mountains, themselves, seemed to call him--inviting him to
learn the secret of their calm strength and the spirit of their lofty
peace. The following day, they would spend in town; purchasing an outfit
of the necessary equipment and supplies, securing a burro, and attending
to numerous odds and ends of business preparatory to their indefinite
absence.

It so happened, the next day, that Yee Kee,--who was to care for the place
during their weeks of absence had matters of importance to himself, that
demanded his attention in town. When his masters informed him that they
would not be home for lunch, he took advantage of the opportunity and
asked for the day.

Thus it came about that Conrad Lagrange--in the spirit of a boy bent upon
some secret adventure--stole out into the