en who
evidently know a good thing when they see it."

"Sometimes, Mr. Brown, sometimes," said the Superintendent, shrewdly.

But Shock refused utterly and absolutely.

"I am no speaker," he said. "I am a failure as a speaker."

"Well, Mr. Macgregor, I will not take your refusal to-night. It is the
Committee's request, and you ought to hesitate before refusing it."

"A man can do no more than his best," said Shock, "and I know I cannot
speak."

"Well, think it over," said the Superintendent, preparing to go.

"Oh, sit down, sit down," cried Brown. "You must want to have a talk
with Shock here, and I want to hear all about this afternoon."

"Well," said the Superintendent, seating himself, "it is not often I
have a chance to talk with a Prospector, so I will accept your
invitation." And by the time the talk was done it was too late for
Shock to think of visiting his home, and Brown went asleep with the
happy expectation of what he called the "kick-off" next day.

XXI

THE WAITING GAME

Brown was early astir. He knew that he could not keep Shock so fully
employed as to prevent his going home long before ten o'clock, and it
was part of his plan that Shock's first meeting with Helen should take
place in his own mother's house.

"The first thing we must do," he announced, "is to see a tailor. If you
are going to address the General Assembly you have got to get proper
togs. And anyway, you may as well get a suit before you go West again.
I know a splendid tailor--cheap, too."

"Well, he will need to be cheap," said Shock, "for I cannot afford much
for clothes."

"Well, I will see about that," said Brown. So he did, for after some
private conversation with the tailor, the prices quoted to Shock were
quite within even his small means.

It was half-past nine before they reached Shock's home. Brown took the
key out of his pocket, opened the door, and allowed Shock to enter,
waiting outside for a few moments.

When he followed Shock in he found him still standing in the centre of
the little room, looking about upon the familiar surroundings, the
articles of furniture, the pictures on the wall, his mother's chair
beside the table, with her Bible and glasses at hand.

As Brown came in Shock turned to him and said, "Is this some more of
your kindness, Brown? Have you taken this care of everything?"

"No," said Brown, "that is not my work. Every week since the house was
closed Helen has come over and kep