said, "If I admitted that you were right?"

Hallam raised his big hand, and pressed his thumb down slowly and
viciously on the table. "It don't need admitting. I've got you
there," he said. "Still, I don't know that I want to squeeze you.
Well, I once kept Alton out of Somasco to please you, and now I want
you to keep him right here in Vancouver for a while."

"I could not do it."

"Well," said Hallam, grinning, "if you couldn't, I figure your daughter
could."

Deringham had all along been struggling with a sense of disgust, and
now his anger mastered him. It was, however, the rage of a weak man
which is not far removed from fear.

"You infernal scoundrel," he said.

Hallam laughed brutally. "That may do you good, and it makes no
difference to me," he said. "I want Alton to stop here just three
weeks from to-day. He'll stay without pressing for two of them, I
think--and you've got to keep him during the third one. There's
nothing going to hurt him, but it wouldn't be wise to fool things, you
understand?"

He took up his hat as he spoke, and moved towards the door, while
Deringham's eyes blazed when it closed behind him.

"Damn him!" he said, almost choked with impotent fury, and then sat
down limply with a face that grew suddenly blanched. His hand shook as
he seized his glass, and some of the wine he needed was spilled upon
the table, for his eyes grew dim as the faintness came upon him.
Deringham had been recommended a rest from all excitement and business
anxieties before he sailed from England, and passion was distinctly
injudicious considering the condition of one of his organs.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE FORCE OF CALUMNY

As Hallam had surmised, one or two affairs of importance detained Alton
in Vancouver. The winter had been exceptionally rigorous, and he knew
that the claim was guarded securely by frost and snow. Having also, he
fancied, effectually silenced his indiscreet visitor by flinging him
down-stairs, he thought no more about that affair, and spent one or two
evenings pleasantly at Forel's house, where Alice Deringham greeted him
with slightly reserved cordiality.

She fancied she understood his reticence on the memorable evening when
he had stumbled on the stairway, and was not altogether displeased by
it. He had, it seemed, been over-sensitive, for he was but slightly
lame, while she had reasons for surmising that he would realize there
was no great necessity for the self-sac