d a
weather-beaten old coat and weather-beaten old moccasins, and such a
proud, clear, undaunted look on your face. I have remembered you ever
since."

And then he told her of the race to the Land Office, while her eyes grew
brighter and brighter with the epic splendor of the story. She told him
that she had loved him from that moment--and believed her telling; while
he, the unsentimental leader of men, persuaded himself and her that he
had always in some mysterious manner carried her image prophetically in
his heart. So much for the love of it.

In the last days of the month of delight Thorpe received a second letter
from his partner, which to some extent awakened him to the realities.

"My dear Harry," it ran. "I have made a startling discovery. The other
fellow is Morrison. I have been a blind, stupid dolt, and am caught
nicely. You can't call me any more names than I have already called
myself. Morrison has been in it from the start. By an accident I learned
he was behind the fellow who induced me to invest, and it is he who has
been hammering the stock down ever since. They couldn't lick you at your
game, so they tackled me at mine. I'm not the man you are, Harry, and
I've made a mess of it. Of course their scheme is plain enough on the
face of it. They're going to involve me so deeply that I will drag the
firm down with me.

"If you can fix it to meet those notes, they can't do it. I have ample
margin to cover any more declines they may be able to bring about. Don't
fret about that. Just as sure as you can pay that sixty thousand, just
so sure we'll be ahead of the game at this time next year. For God's
sake get a move on you, old man. If you don't--good Lord! The firm'll
bust because she can't pay; I'll bust because I'll have to let my stock
go on margins--it'll be an awful smash. But you'll get there, so we
needn't worry. I've been an awful fool, and I've no right to do the
getting into trouble and leave you to the hard work of getting out
again. But as partner I'm going to insist on your having a salary--etc."

The news aroused all Thorpe's martial spirit. Now at last the mystery
surrounding Morrison & Daly's unnatural complaisance was riven. It had
come to grapples again. He was glad of it. Meet those notes? Well I
guess so! He'd show them what sort of a proposition they had tackled.
Sneaking, underhanded scoundrels! taking advantage of a mere boy. Meet
those notes? You bet he would; and then he'd go down