tude."

"The latter has some advantages," Scott rejoined. "To-night, for
example, you could enjoy a good dinner instead of moldy beans and
rancid pork, put on clean clothes, and go to a concert or theater. Then
you'd get up next morning in a warm room, with a bath and hot water at
hand, instead of freezing by a stove that had burned low. Anyhow,
admitting that you're obstinate and hate to go where others want, I've a
notion that you felt you had to see me out when you refused that post."

"Oh, well," said Thirlwell awkwardly. "In a sense, I was bound--"

"By your scruples? But we'll let it go," Scott rejoined. "I expect we're
all to some extent the slaves of an idea. I'd pull out to-morrow if I
didn't feel I had to make my mining venture good before I quit. All the
same, it looks as if I'd save my money by stopping now."

He looked up, for there was a knock at the door and a man who had gone
down to the settlements came in. His skin cap was pulled down to meet
the collar of his coat, leaving only his eyes and nose exposed, and fine
frost-dried snow stuck to the shaggy furs.

"It's surely fierce to-night," he said. "Thought we couldn't make it
when we met the wind on Loon Lake, but there was no shelter on the beach
and our tea had run out. I brought a letter for Mr. Thirlwell along."

"Nothing else?" Scott asked.

The man said there was nothing, and when he went away Scott smiled.

"Well, that's a relief! I had expected a reminder that we hadn't paid
our last bill for tools. But I guess you want to read your letter."

Thirlwell felt a thrill of satisfaction as he recognized the hand, for
it was some time since Agatha had written to him. He got thoughtful as
he read the letter, and when he had finished put it down and lighted his
pipe.

"I'd like you to listen to this and tell me what you think," he said.

Scott make a sign of agreement, and when Thirlwell had read Agatha's
account of her meeting with the burglar and Stormont, he remarked: "It's
a nice frank letter, and Miss Strange has some talent for dramatic
narrative."

"That's not what I meant," said Thirlwell, with an impatient frown.
"What d'you think about Stormont's visit?"

"On the whole, I imagine Miss Strange ran less risk of being robbed when
she met the burglar."

"So I think. But why did the fellow go?"

Scott looked thoughtful. "Though Stormont's said to be a rogue, he's
certainly not a fool. You seem to take it for granted that Strange ne