rew her arms affectionately around his neck. Earnestly
she said:

"Yes, John. I think this is my one great chance. I do love you, and I
want to do just what you say."

The big fellow's face beamed with content and happiness as fondly he
caressed her hair.

"I think you will, little girl," he said. "And I'm going to make the
same promise. I've been no angel myself. Ever since I've been able to
earn my own living, I've abused every natural gift God gave me. This
restlessness and love of adventure has kept me where I am. My life
hasn't been exactly loose, but it's been all in pieces. I've frittered
my time and opportunities away just for the fun of it. But, Laura,
dear--when I met you and began to know you I realized for the first
time that I was making an awful waste of myself. Now it's all
different. Give me time--only a few months--and I'll show you what I
can do."

"John!"

It was all she could say, but he understood, and clasping her
passionately, his head dropped lower over her face, until his warm lips
met her unresisting mouth. When, after a blissful interval, she looked
up, he saw that there were tears in her eyes. Tenderly he said:

"Some lovers place a woman on a pedestal and say: 'She never has made a
mistake.' Well, we don't need any pedestals. I know you will never make
a mistake again."

Gravely she placed both her hands on his square shoulders. Looking him
straight in the eyes, she said:

"John, I will never make you take those words back."

"That goes double," he rejoined laughingly. "You're going to cut out
the cafes and the lobster suppers, and I'm going to cut out my
shiftlessness and indolence. You're going to be somebody, and if my
hunch is worth the powder to blow it up, we'll show folks things they
never thought were in us. We'll begin right now. You're ready, ain't
you, dear?"

"Yes, I'm ready."

Pointing towards the house, he said:

"Then call him."

"Brockton?"

"Yes, tell him you go back to New York without any traveling
companion."

She hesitated and looked perplexed. She was hardly prepared to act so
quickly as this.

"Now?" she demanded.

"Now," he said firmly.

She clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. Timidly she said:

"You want to hear me tell him?"

He smiled.

"We're partners, aren't we? I ought to be in on any important
transaction like that, but it's just as you say."

The girl nodded. Hesitatingly she said:

"I think it would be right you shoul