ic; yours
is too wasteful. Come, now, you're keeping back something. You might as
well 'fess up. What _were_ you doing?"

The playwright remained on his guard. "Well, as I wrote you, I had a
couple of plays accepted and helped to produce them. There's nothing
more wearing than producing a play. The anxiety is killing."

"I believe you. I think the writing of one act would finish me. Yes, I
can see that would be exciting business; but what's all this about your
engagement to some big actress?"

This brought the blood to the younger man's cheek, but he was studiedly
careless in reply. "All newspaper talk. Of course, in rehearsing the
play, I saw a great deal of Miss Merival, but--that's all. She is one of
the most successful and brilliant women on the stage, while I--well, I
am only a 'writing architect,' earning my board by doing a little
dramatic criticism now and then. You need not put any other two things
together to know how foolish such reports are."

Walt seemed satisfied. "Well, my advice is: slow down to Darien time.
Eat and sleep, and ride a bronco to make you eat more and sleep harder,
and in two weeks you'll be like your old-time self."

This advice, so obviously sound, was hard to follow, for each day
brought a letter from Helen, studiously brief and very sparing of any
terms of affection--frank, good letters, kindly but no more--and young
Douglass was dissatisfied, and said so. He spent a large part of each
morning pouring out upon paper the thoughts and feelings surging within
him. He told her of the town, of the delicious, crisp climate--like
October in the East--of the great snow-peaks to the West, of his rides
far out on the plain, of his plans for the coming year.

"I dug an old play out of my trunk to-day" (he wrote, towards the end of
the first week). "It's the first one I ever attempted. It is very
boyish. I had no problems in my mind then, but it is worth while. I am
going to rewrite it and send it on to you, for I can't be idle. I
believe you'll like it. It is a love drama pure and simple."

To this she replied: "I am interested in what you say of your first
play, but don't work--rest and enjoy your vacation."

A few days later he wrote, in exultation: "I got a grip on the play
yesterday and re-wrote two whole acts. I think I've put some of the
glory of this land and sky into it--I mean the exultation of health and
youth. I am putting you into it, too--I mean the adoration I feel for
you,