'That's a question. If I'd tell
you, you'd know the answer.' Those were the very words you said. And now
you'll never trust a woman again!"

She laughed, and Wunpost rose slowly to his feet, but he did not get out
of the door.

"What's the matter?" she taunted; "did 'them Los Angeles girls' fool
you, too? Or am I the only one?"

"You're the only one," he answered ambiguously, and stood looking at her
queerly.

"Well, cheer up!" she dimpled, for her mood was gay. "You'll find
another one, somewhere."

"No I won't," he said; "you're the only one, Billy. But I never looked
for nothing like this."

"Well, you told me to get onto myself and learn to play the game, and
finally I took you at your word."

"Yes," he agreed, "I can't say a word. But these Blackwater stiffs will
sure throw it into me when they find I've been trimmed by a girl. The
best thing I can do is to drift."

He put his hand on the door-knob, but she knew he would not go, and he
turned back with a sheepish grin.

"What do the folks think about this?" he inquired casually, and
Wilhelmina made a face.

"They think I'm just _awful_!" she confessed. "But I don't
care--I'm tired of being poor."

"Don't reckon there'll be another cloudburst, do you, about the time you
get your road built?"

She grew sober at that and then her eyes gleamed.

"I don't care!" she repeated, "and besides, I didn't steal this. You
told me I could have it, you know."

"Too fine a point for me," he decided. "We'll just see, after you build
your new road."

"Well, I'm going to build it," she stated, "because he'll worry himself
to death. And I don't care what happens to me, as long as he gets his
road."

"Well, I've seen 'em that wanted all kinds of things, but you're the
first one that wanted a road. And so you're going to sign this contract
if it loses you a million dollars?"

"Yes, I am," she said. "We've drawn it all up and I've given him my
word, so there's nothing else to do."

"Yes, there is," he replied. "Tell him you've changed your mind and want
a million dollars. Tell him that I've come back and don't want that
grubstake contract and that you'll take it all in cash."

"No," she frowned, "now there's no use arguing, because I've fully made
up my mind. And if----" She paused and listened as steps came down the
hall. "They're coming," she said and smiled.

There was a rapid patter of feet and Lapham rapped and came in, bearing
some papers and his notary