f them is--for you."

"For me? Because----"

"Because your way to Arcadia lay over three graves. That means nothing
to you--does it also mean nothing that your life was imperilled within
an hour of your arrival at your camp?"

He drew the big chair nearer to the hammock and sat down again.

"Now you are letting Bromley's imagination run away with yours. That
rock came from our quarry. There was a night gang getting out stone for
the dam."

She laid her hand softly on his knee.

"Do you want to know how much I trust you? That stone was thrown by a
man who was standing upon the high bluff back of your headquarters. He
thought you were alone in the office, and he meant to kill you. Don't
ask me who it was, or how I know--I _do_ know."

Ballard started involuntarily. It was not in human nature to take such
an announcement calmly.

"Do you mean to say that I was coolly ambushed before I could----"

She silenced him with a quick little gesture. Blacklock and Miss
Cantrell were still pacing their sentry beat, and the major's "H'm--ha!"
rose in irascible contradiction above the hum of voices.

"I have said all that I dare to say; more than I should have said if you
were not so rashly determined to make light of things you do not
understand," she rejoined evenly.

"They are things which I should understand--which I must understand if I
am to deal intelligently with them," he insisted. "I have been calling
them one part accident and three parts superstition or imagination. But
if there is design----"

Again she stopped him with the imperative little gesture.

"I did not say there was design," she denied.

It was an _impasse_, and the silence which followed emphasised it. When
he rose to take his leave, love prompted an offer of service, and he
made it.

"I cannot help believing that you are mistaken," he qualified. "But I
respect your anxiety so much that I would willingly share it if I could.
What do you want me to do?"

She turned to look away down the maple-shadowed avenue and her answer
had tears in it.

"I want you to be watchful--always watchful. I wish you to believe that
your life is in peril, and to act accordingly. And, lastly, I beg you to
help me to keep Mr. Wingfield away from Elbow Canyon."

"I shall be heedful," he promised. "And if Mr. Wingfield comes
material-hunting, I shall be as inhospitable as possible. May I come
again to Castle 'Cadia?"

The invitation was given instantly, almost ea