card and stated that a man wished
to see her. On the card was printed _John Stormont_ and the number of a
post-office box at Winnipeg.

"I don't know Mr. Stormont," Agatha remarked. "But if he wants to see
me, you may show him in."

A few moments later a man entered the room. He was young and neatly
dressed, and smiled urbanely as he bowed.

"Miss Strange, I suppose? If you are not much occupied, I hope you can
give me a few minutes."

Agatha, feeling curious, indicated a chair and studied him when he sat
down. His voice was rather harsh, his glance was quick, and his alert
manner implied self-confidence. There was, however, nothing else to be
remarked about him, and she thought him a common type of young business
man.

"I am not engaged just now," she replied.

"Thank you," said Stormont. "Perhaps I'd better state that I'm pretty
well known in Winnipeg, where I do business in real estate and sometimes
undertake the development of mineral claims. I've recently put over two
or three big transactions in that line."

"But Manitoba is a farming country."

"Certainly; the prairie belt. The eastern strip, running along the edge
of the Territories from Lake of the Woods, is different. There the rocks
break out among the pine forests and in the last few years prospectors
have found valuable minerals. Some are being worked, and I expect we
will soon hear of fresh discoveries. I understand you are the daughter
of Gordon Strange, who found a silver lode in North Ontario."

"I am his daughter; but I believe the lode was not in Ontario."

"Then it was in the neighboring Territories. I expect your father often
talked to you about his find."

"He did," said Agatha. "Still I don't see--"

Stormont smiled. "You wonder where I am leading you? Well, it's part of
my occupation to investigate mining propositions, and where the owners
want to sell, to find a buyer. Sometimes I lend them money to improve
the claim. In fact, I imagine you would find me useful in many ways."

"I cannot sell the lode before I know where it is."

"That's obvious," Stormont agreed. "The difficulty, however, might be
overcome, and that's where I could help. But, to begin with, am I to
understand your father altogether failed to relocate the claim? Although
he filed no record, he may have found a clue."

Agatha gave him a keen glance. He had said nothing to excite much
suspicion, but she felt that he was going too fast and asking too many
question