Gertrude--indeed, she sunk quite
faintly into a chair, and starting for the stove Glover dragged from
behind it Solomon Battershawl. "What are you doing here?" demanded
Glover, savagely.

"I'm night clerk, Mr. Glover--ow----"

"Night clerk? Very well, Solomon," muttered Glover, grimly, "take this
young lady to the warmest room in the house at once."

"Every room's full, Mr. Glover. Trains were all tied up last night."

"Then show her to my room."

"Your room's occupied."

"My room occupied, you villain? What do you mean? Throw out whoever's
in it instantly."

"Mr. Brock is in your room."

Gertrude had come over to the stove.

"Mr. Brock!"

"My father!"

"Yes, sir; yes, ma'am."

Gertrude and Glover looked at one another.

"Mr. Blood brought him up last night," said Solomon.

"Where's Mr. Blood?"

"He hasn't come up from the Wickiup. They said he was worried over a
special from the Cat that was caught in the blizzard. Your laundry
came in all right last night, Mr. Glover----"

"Hang the laundry."

"I paid for it."

"Will you cease your gabble? If Mr. Blood's room is empty take Miss
Block up there and rouse a chambermaid instantly to attend her. Do you
hear?"

"Shall I throw out Mr. Brock?"

"Let him alone, stupid. What's the matter with the lights?"

"The wires are down."

"Get a candle for Miss Brock. Now, will you make haste?" Solomon,
when he heard the name, stared at Miss Brock--but when he recognized
her he started without argument and was gone an unconscionably long
time.

They sat down where they could feast on each other's eyes in the glow
of the coal-stove.

"You have looked so worried all night," said Gertrude, in love's
solicitude; "were you afraid we should be lost?"

"No, I didn't intend we should be lost."

"What was it? What is it that makes you so careworn?"

"Nothing special."

"But you mustn't have any secrets from me now. What is it?"

"Do you want to know?"

"Yes."

"I couldn't find time to get shaved before we left Sleepy Cat----"

She rose with both hands uplifted: "Shades of vain heroes! Have I
wasted my sympathy all night on a man who has been saving my life with
perfect calmness and worrying because he couldn't get shaved?"

"Can you dispassionately say that I don't need barbering?"

"No. But this is what I will say, silly fellow--you don't know much
about a woman's heart, do you, Ab? When I first looked at you I
thought you were t