ground impatiently.

"We must be getting on to Tralee," said a voice that seemed to force its
way through bronchial obstructions. "Come, Mrs. Mazarine."

He laid a big, flat, tropical hand, which gave the impression of being
splayed, on the girl's shoulder. The gallant words of the Mayor--a
chivalrous mountain man--had set dark elements working. As the new
master of Tralee stepped forward, the Young Doctor could not help
noticing how large and hairy were the ears that stood far out from the
devilish head. It was a huge, steel-twisted, primitive man, who
somehow gave the impression of a gorilla. The face was repulsive in
its combination of surly smugness, as shown by the long upper lip, by a
repellent darkness round the small, furtive eyes, by a hardness in the
huge, bearded jaw, and by a mouth of primary animalism.

The Mayor caught sight of the Young Doctor, and he stopped the
incongruous pair as they moved to the station doorway, the girl in
front, as though driven.

"Mr. Mazarine, you've got to know the man who counts for more in
Askatoon than anybody else; Doctor, you've got to know Mr. Mazarine,"
said the generous Mayor.

Repugnance was in full possession of the Young Doctor, but he was
scientific and he was philosophic, if nothing else. He shook hands with
Mazarine deliberately. If he could prevent it, there should be, where
he was concerned, no jealousy, such as Mazarine had shown towards the
Mayor, in connection with this helpless, exquisite creature in the
grip of hard fate. Shaking hands with the girl with only a friendly
politeness in his glance, he felt a sudden eager, clinging clasp of her
fingers. It was like lightning, and gone like lightning, as was the
look that flashed between them. Somehow the girl instinctively felt the
nature of the man, and in spirit flew to him for protection. No one
saw the swift look, and in it there was nothing which spoke of youth or
heart, of the feeling of man for woman or woman for man; but only the
longing for help on the girl's part, undefined as it was. On the man's
part there was a soul whose gift and duty were healing. As the two
passed on, the Young Doctor looked around him at the exclaiming crowd,
for few had left the station when the train rolled out. Curiosity was an
obsession with the people of Askatoon.

"Well, I never!" said round-faced Mrs. Skinner, with huge hips and gray
curls. "Did you ever see the like?"

"I call it a shame," declared an indignant