s."

"Stanley is off my shoulders, too, and good for a nice long term. And I
have full directions for reaching Stanley's mine. You and I, in that wild
Arizona country, would not know our little way about; we will be wholly
dependent upon Zurich; and, therefore, we must share our map with him.
But, on the whole, I think I have managed rather well than otherwise.
It may be, after this bonanza is safely in our hands, that we may be able
to discover some ultimate wizardry of finance which shall deal with
Zurich's case. We shall see."

CHAPTER XIII

Mr. Francis Charles Boland, propped up on one elbow, sprawled upon a rug
spread upon the grass under a giant willow tree at Mitchell House, deep
in the Chronicles of Sir John Froissart. Mr. Ferdinand Sedgwick tip-toed
unheard across the velvet sward. He prodded Frances Charles with his toe.

"Ouch!" said Francis Charles.

"You'll catch your death of cold. Get up! Your company is desired."

"Go 'way!"

"Miss Dexter wants you."

"Don't, either. She was coiled in the hammock ten minutes ago. Wearing a
criminal neglige. Picturesque, but not posing. She slept; I heard her
snore."

"She's awake now and wants you to make a fourth at bridge; you two
against Elsie and me."

"Botheration! Tell her you couldn't find me."

"I would hush the voice of conscience and do your bidding gladly,
old thing, if it lay within the sphere of practical politics. But,
unfortunately, she saw you."

"Tell her to go to the devil!"

Ferdie considered this proposition and rejected it with regret.

"She wouldn't do it. But you go on with your reading. I'll tell her
you're disgruntled. She'll understand. This will make the fourth day that
you haven't taken your accustomed stroll by the schoolhouse. We're all
interested, Frankie."

"You banshee!" Francis withdrew the finger that had been keeping his
place in the book. "I suppose I'll have to go back with you." He sat up,
rather red as to his face.

"I bet she turned you down hard, old boy," murmured Mr. Sedgwick
sympathetically. "My own life has been very sad. It has been blighted
forever, several times. Is she pretty? I haven't seen her, myself, and
the reports of the men-folks and the young ladies don't tally. Funny
thing, but scientific observation shows that when a girl says another
girl is fine-looking--Hully Gee! And _vice versa_. Eh? What say?"

"Didn't say anything. You probably overheard me thinking. If so, I beg
your pardon