g him."

Soon afterwards Benson came out from the dining-room. He was two or
three years younger than Blake and had a muscular figure, but he looked
shaky and his face was weak and marked by dissipation. Smiling in a
deprecatory way, he lighted a cigar.

"I'm afraid I made a fool of myself last night," he said. "If I made
any unfortunate allusions you must overlook them. You must have seen
that I wasn't altogether responsible."

"I did," Blake answered drily. "If we are to remain friends, you had
better understand that I can't tolerate any further mention of the
matter you talked about."

"Sorry," said Benson, who gave him a keen glance. "Though I don't
think you have much cause to be touchy about it, I'll try to remember."

"Then I'd like you to know my partner, Mr. Harding, who has agreed to a
suggestion I'm going to make. We want you to come with us on a trip to
the northern bush."

"Thanks," said Benson, who shook hands with Harding. "I wonder what
use you think I would be?"

"To tell the truth, I haven't considered whether you would be of any
use or not; but you had better come. The trip will brace you up, and
you look as if you needed it."

Benson's face grew red. "Your intentions may be good, but you virtuous
and respectable people sometimes show a meddlesome thoughtfulness which
degenerates like myself resent. Besides, I suspect your offer has come
too late."

"I don't think you have much reason for taunting me with being
respectable," Blake rejoined with a grim smile. "Anyway, I want you to
come with us."

Tilting his chair back, Benson looked heavily about. "When I was new
to the country I often wished to go north. There are caribou and moose
up yonder; great sights when the rivers break up in spring, and a
sledge trip across the snow must be a thing to remember. The wilds
draw you, but I'm afraid my nerve's not good enough. A man must be fit
in every way to cross the timber belt."

"Then why aren't you fit? Why have you let that fellow Clarke suck the
life and energy out of you, as well as rob you of your money?"

"You hit hard, but I expect I deserve it, and I'll try to explain."
Benson indicated the desolate settlement with a gesture of weariness.

Ugly frame houses straggled, weather-scarred and dilapidated, along one
side of the unpaved street, while unsightly refuse dumps disfigured the
slopes of the ravine in front. There was no sign of activity, but two
or three untid