e gone far, and a number of things may have
delayed Thirlwell, but I know he'll come," she said to George, who
smiled.

"He'll come if it's possible; he's an obstinate fellow," Scott agreed.
"There's a train just before the meeting. Will you go to the station?"

"Yes," said Agatha. "I feel he will be there."

"Then you'll hold us up; that train is often late," George grumbled.

"Have you got a hint about what Stormont wants?" Agatha asked Scott.

"Not yet, but we'll know soon. I expect George told you Stormont has
floated a company to work the claims his men staked behind our block."

They had some hours to wait because the meeting was in the afternoon,
and Agatha found the shops strangely unattractive; moreover, she did not
know if it would be prudent to buy the things she wanted. In the
afternoon she went to the Canadian-Pacific Station, and being told the
train had left Ottawa late, she sat down in the neighboring square by
the Cathedral. She was surprised to find that she was nervous, but this
was not altogether because of the money at stake. Thirlwell had not
failed her yet and it would be a painful shock if he did so now. She had
a half-superstitious feeling that it was important he should come. If he
arrived, all would go well; if not--but she refused to follow the
thought, and looked at her watch. Only a few minutes had gone since her
last glance and she tried to conquer her impatience.

Her heart beat when she stood beside the platform gate as the long train
rolled in. The cars were crowded, but she thrilled when Thirlwell jumped
down from a vestibule. He looked thin and tired, but smiled when she
gave him her hand.

"I'm here," he said. "A little late, but the train was held up by a
broken trestle."

"You are always where you are wanted," Agatha replied, with a touch of
color in her face. "One trusts people like that."

Thirlwell said he would get a hack in the square, and Agatha studied him
as they drove across the city. Sometimes his face was stern, but for the
most part, it wore a look of quiet satisfaction, and once or twice his
eyes twinkled, as if he were amused by something.

"It's too bad to hurry you off to an important meeting when you're
tired," she said.

Thirlwell laughed. "I expect to hold out until the business is finished.
In fact, I'm looking forward to meeting Mr. Stormont."

He had made a long and risky journey over a rough trail and across
rotten ice, and after George's messe