Castle 'Cadia.

Gardiner walked down to the construction camp at Elbow Canyon bright and
early the following morning to make his peace with Ballard.

"Age has its privileges which youth is obliged to concede, Breckenridge,
my son," was the form his apology took. "When I learned that I might
have my visit with you, and still be put up at the millionaire hostelry
in the valley above, I didn't hesitate a moment. I am far beyond the
point of bursting into enthusiastic raptures over a bunk shake-down in a
camp shanty, steel forks, tin platters, and plum-duff, when I can live
on the fat of the land and sleep on a modern mattress. How are you
coming on? Am I still in time to be in at the death?"

"I hope there isn't going to be any death," was the laughing rejoinder.
"Because, in the natural sequence of things, it would have to be mine,
you know."

"Ah! You are tarred a little with the superstitious stick, yourself, are
you? What was it you said to me about 'two sheer accidents and a
commonplace tragedy'? You may remember that I warned you, and the event
proves that I was a true prophet. I predicted that Arcadia would have
its shepherdess, you recollect."

Thus, with dry humour, the wise man from the East. But Ballard was not
prepared at the moment for a plunge into the pool of sentiment with the
mildly cynical old schoolman for a bath-master, and he proposed, as the
readiest alternative, a walking tour of the industries.

Gardiner was duly impressed by the industrial miracles, and by the
magnitude of the irrigation scheme. Also, he found fitting words in
which to express his appreciation of the thoroughness of Ballard's work,
and of the admirable system under which it was pressing swiftly to its
conclusion. But these matters became quickly subsidiary when he began to
examine the curious geological formation of the foothill range through
which the river elbowed its tumultuous course.

"These little wrinklings of the earth's crust at the foot of the great
mountain systems are nature's puzzle-pieces for us," he remarked. "I
foresee an extremely enjoyable vacation for me--if you have forgiven me
to the extent of a snack at your mess-table now and then, and a possible
night's lodging in your bungalow if I should get caught out too late to
reach the millionaire luxuries of Castle 'Cadia."

"If I haven't forgiven you, Bromley will take you in," laughed Ballard.
"Make yourself one of us--when you please and as you please. The