hank God she found yo' and tuk pity on yo'."

To the other he said: "Well, the dod-durned, Newgate, Rotten Row, British
thieves! How I would like to 'ave 'em in Texas for one short quarter of a
hour!"

His enthusiasm was at its height at the close of Sedgwick's story. He
cried out:

"It'll be glorious, Jim. Ef the mine can be worked up, we'll make it,
sho'." Then after a pause, he said slowly as to himself, in a low tone:
"It'll take me outer myself, maybe; that'll be wo'th mo' to me than a
gold mine."

"But it is a tough time of year," said Sedgwick. "The Red Sea and the
ocean beyond will be like furnaces at this season."

"Red Sea, ocean, furnace, everything, goes," said Jordan. "I enlist fo'
ther wah."

Another meeting was arranged for that afternoon, and Sedgwick returned to
the Hamlin home.

He went direct to Browning's room, tapped on Jack's door, and then walked
in. Jack was leaning upon the table, thinking, and was so engrossed that
he did not hear the tap or the opening of the door.

He started up as Sedgwick laid his hand on his shoulder, and said: "I
don't believe, Jim, that I heard you come in."

"That's all right," said Sedgwick, "but, Jack, you must hear me now."
Then sitting down close beside his friend, Sedgwick went on:

"I have thought this business all out, Jack. I believe the prime motive
for this swindle was to separate you and Rose, and prevent your marriage.
The first thing to do then, is to secure that matter. You must see Rose,
and if she is willing, you must be married to-morrow. I think she will
consent, and that her mother will approve it when she shall have been
told the truth. This must be, Jack; first, because those old scoundrels
will continue to plot against the marriage until they know it is of no
more use; and second, I want to go away to-morrow evening."

"It cannot be," said Browning. "They took all my money. They left me but
a beggarly L12,500."

"How much did you keep thinking through so long a time would be
sufficient to accumulate before you could come back and 'try to steal
Rose Jenvie?'" asked Sedgwick.

"O yes, I know," said Browning; "but then it was different."

"What have you told Rose about your money matters?" asked Sedgwick.

"Not one word," was the reply.

"Do you think she expects a no-account boy to go off to America, and with
nothing but his head and his hands to accumulate more than L12,500 in
three or four years?" asked Sedgwick. "But this is al