programme for to-day?"

"For John, business, I suppose; for myself, a carriage, a handy
card-case, and any number of 'how do you dos' and 'good-byes.' Why?"

"I want you both to give me the day, out and out. Listen, and don't say
no till you've heard me through."

"Go on, but don't let it lap over into Denver; we're 'most there."

Brockway stated his case briefly. "It's probably the last chance I'll
ever have to see her," he concluded.

"Why should you want to see her when there is nothing to be done, as you
say?"

"I don't know that--but I do, and you must help me. Will you?"

"Help you carry on a brazen flirtation with that poor, innocent girl?
Never! But if John says he'll go, I suppose I can't help
myself"--resignedly.

"Thank you; I knew you wouldn't be cruel. And if John should happen to
balk a little----"

"Why, I'll talk him over, of course; is that what you want?"

"That's it exactly. Thank you some more."

"Don't mention it. Is that all?"

"Y--yes, all but one little trifle of detail. Have you told John about
my--my lunacy?"

"No."

"Then don't; it's bad enough to be an idiot and know it myself."

"I sha'n't--perhaps. Is _that_ all?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"Then for mercy's sake do go and talk to John, and let me put on my
shoes," said Mrs. Burton, impatiently. "I can't go to breakfast in my
slippers."

Brockway vanished obediently, and presently found Burton struggling into
his outer garments in the smoking-room.

"Hello, Fred; how are the invalids this morning? Get you out bright and
early?"

"One of them did--that old fellow with the bad case of ticket-limits.
I'm in trouble up to my neck, and you've got to help me out."

"Say the word and I'll do it if it costs me something," said Burton, who
was nothing if not helpful to his friends.

"It's going to cost you something--a whole day, in fact. I promised to
'personally conduct' the crowd up to Silver Plume to-day, and the
arrangements are all made. Now this old fellow says he isn't going; says
I've got to stay in Denver with him and telegraph another thirty days to
his ticket, or the heavens will fall. I'm going to do it, and I want you
to take my place with the party."

"Same old maker of hard-and-fast promises, aren't you, Fred," said the
general agent, smiling. "I suppose I can do it, if you can square it
with Emily."

"I've done that already; she's awfully good about it--says she'll go
along and help you out. What's this