tops, it flooded the valleys, it
brightened his own heart, it touched the bosoms of other men, it shone
in their eyes.

He had shaved and dressed himself neatly. On his way to his early
breakfast he met Marshall Sothern on the street. Drennen came to him
swiftly, putting out his hand.

"I have been rather a brute and an unqualified boor," he said quietly.
"I owe you a very great deal, Mr. Sothern, my life I suppose. I'd like
to shake hands."

Sothern looked at him strangely, both sensing and seeing the change in
the man. He put out his hand and it settled hard about Drennen's.

"My boy," he said simply, "you have my word for it that you owe me not
so much as a word of thanks. You are getting along all right?"

"Yes. So well that I'm off to-day for Lebarge to file on my claims.
I'll not waste any time in getting back. If then you care to look over
the property . . ."

The buoyancy within him had been speaking through the vibrant tones of
his voice. Suddenly he broke off, his eyes widening to a look of
groping wonderment. His jaw had dropped a little, he stood as if
frozen in his place, even the hand which Sothern had just released held
motionless half way on its brief return journey to his side. In an
incredibly short instant he had grown pale; his voice, when he spoke
the two words, was harsh and unsteady:

"My God!"

Sothern threw up his hand as though to beat back physically a flow of
words.

"Not now!" he commanded sharply. "Wait. Later. . . ."

He had turned abruptly and moved away in a haste which carried him with
long strides down the street. Drennen, the rigidity of his body giving
way to a little shiver which ran up and down him from shoulders to
calves, stared speechlessly after Sothern. His mouth, closed slowly,
now opened suddenly as though he were going to call, but no words came.
He took one swift step after Sothern, then stopped in an uneasy
indecision.

Far down the open roadway he could see Marc Lemarc with Captain Sefton
coming into the Settlement from the direction of the dugout. In front
of Marquette's, as he glanced swiftly the other way, he could see
Charlie Madden at the doorstep. Joe was at his own door. It seemed to
Drennen that they were all looking at him. He turned then, his back
toward Sothern, and went to the lunch counter.

Joe asked twice what he would eat before Drennen heard and gave his
order. Madden came in while he was stirring the coffee which was