ing his car before the cottage, John Hampton alighted and
gave a quick glance toward the "Eb and Flo," now abreast of Beech Cove.
He then turned, opened the gate, and hurried up the path to the house.
His every movement was expressive of abounding health and buoyant
vitality. As Mrs. Hampton met him on the verandah, her eyes kindled
with pride. He was so big and manly, and his bronzed, clean-shaven
face glowed with animation. He stooped to kiss her, and then holding
her at arm's length looked anxiously into her eyes.

"Mother dear, what is the matter?" he asked. "You are so pale."

"I have been worrying about you, John," Mrs. Hampton evaded, while a
wan smile flickered about the corners of her mouth. "I was afraid
something had happened to you."

"I was unavoidably delayed, mother. I hoped to get home last night,
but it was late before I saw Mr. Perkins. He kept me waiting a long
time."

"Will he buy the mine?" Mrs. Hampton was eagerly alert now, and some
of the colour had returned to her cheeks.

"He would give me no definite answer, mother. He put me off as usual."

"But he knows the value of the mine, does he not?"

"Oh, yes. He had an expert make a report, which is very favourable, so
I understand. The seam is a long one, but it only comes to the surface
on our place, which will make the mining very easy. Deep shafts would
have to be sunk elsewhere, which would make the work most expensive. I
wish to goodness we could mine it ourselves."

"That is out of the question, John," and Mrs. Hampton sighed.
"Your--your father often talked to me about it, and I remember how he
planned, to form a company, which would build a small railway line into
the mine. But his sudden death upset everything. I have been trying
for years to interest men of money, but so far without any success.
Now, however, with coal at such a price and hard to obtain, I have been
hoping that we might succeed."

"Mr. Perkins wants it for almost nothing, mother; that is the trouble.
The mine is so far back, he said, that it would cost almost more than
it is worth to bring it to the river. I know that is all nonsense, and
told him so."

"Isn't there someone else, John?"

"Only one I know of, and that is Mr. Randall, the lumber merchant. But
he refused point blank to have anything to do with it. He was very
nasty and said his business was lumbering and not mining. I thought he
would kick me out of his office, he was so ugly."