ou have something to tell us?" said another.

"Not yet; I'll make a full report at the shareholders' meeting. In the
meantime, do you think Stormont will sell out?"

"It's possible," said Gardner. "He wanted control. We knew that, but
backed him because it seemed the safest plan. I guess he knows he's
beaten."

"Then if he offers you his stock, you had better buy," said Thirlwell,
smiling.

Gardner looked hard at him, and nodded. "I can take a hint. What you say
goes."

* * * * *

After this the party broke up and Scott gently pushed George out when he
saw that Agatha was waiting while Thirlwell picked up some papers he had
got from the secretary. When the others had gone, she gave him her hand
and her face flushed.

"I wonder whether you know how much you have helped?"

Thirlwell kept her hand. "I got some satisfaction from beating your
antagonist."

"But you wanted to help me?"

"I did," said Thirlwell, with a steady look. "I was anxious to do
something that would make you happy."

Agatha turned her head. "Yet you once refused; the morning after we
found the lode--"

"Ah," said Thirlwell, "I fought a pretty hard battle then! But, you see,
I was a poor engineer, and you--"

She looked up with a smile and blushed. "Do you think I didn't _know_?
But you were foolish; ridiculously stupid!"

Thirlwell took her other hand. "Perhaps I was, but I thought I was
right. Things, however, are different now--"

He drew her to him, but she resisted. "Wait! If things had not been
different, would your resolution have held out?"

"No," said Thirlwell, "I'm afraid not; I'm not as strong as I imagined."

"Oh!" she said, "perhaps that's the nicest thing I have heard you say!
But you really didn't often try to be very nice."

"I was afraid I might say too much if I began."

"No!" she protested, as his grasp got firmer. "There's something else!
How long have you really--"

"How long have I wanted you? Well, I think I began to feel the need a
day or two after I met you at the summer hotel."

Agatha blushed, but smiled with shining eyes.

"Then if the need hasn't gone, you can take me."

Thirlwell said nothing, but took her in his arms.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LURE OF THE NORTH***

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