l foolishness, old
boy," he continued. "The last half of the money those old men obtained
from you can be recovered easily, if not all; if that, after awhile,
proves to be the best thing to do. And, moreover, I tell you that we are
partners in this, and that we still have as much money as you and I can
very well handle. I must have my way about this, old friend."

"But if you are going away, why cannot I go with you?" asked Browning.

"For several reasons," replied Sedgwick. "If you remain here, or go down
on your farm in Devonshire, the conclusion of Jenvie and Hamlin will be,
that with your money mostly gone, all I could do was to return to
America.

"Again, no one knows how much more money you have. You must remain. Be
generous at the club, move among men, keep the prestige that you have won
since you came here; be entirely independent; keep your eye on the man
the mine was bought from, even if you have to pay him a salary to insure
his remaining here, and so be in a position to help through any line of
action we may agree upon. More, you must restrain yourself and have no
trouble with young Stetson. He is as much fool as knave.

"Another reason is, that Rose has already waited years for you, and it
would be a wicked and cruel thing to disappoint her again. It would kill
her and unman you. No, no, you must be married to-morrow. But Jack, if I
were you, I would never take my wife back under the Jenvie roof until
full reparation should be made. See her, and gain her consent to an
immediate marriage; then go and hire a house or make arrangements at a
hotel to live, and I want you to promise that you will not, after I
shall have gone, bring any suit or make any sign that you have suffered a
loss, or bother yourself much about business until I come back, or you
receive word of me. I will fix money matters before I go, so that you
will not be troubled. And now, think it over."

When Jack aroused himself, Sedgwick had disappeared. He sat in silence
for a few minutes, then rose, went out, secured a conveyance, called and
asked Rose to go out for a drive.

On the road he explained to Rose all that had happened; how rich he was
when he came home; how his confidence had been betrayed; how little he
had left, and then asked if the dear girl was still willing to be his
wife, and if she would consent to become his wife next day.

She laid her hand on his, and said: "Dear Jack! it was to be for all
time; your home to be my h