promise you faithfully to help you out this afternoon or
to-morrow."

"Sure? Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

"Well, I must say these people expect me to keep----"

There was an exclamation of skeptical impatience, and the door below
slammed with a bang. Laura quietly closed her door, through which Mrs.
Farley's angry mutterings could still be heard indistinctly. Laura
sighed, and, walking to the table, sat down again. Annie looked at her
a moment, and then slowly opened the door.

"Yo' sho' dere ain't nothin' I can do fo' yuh, Miss Laura?"

"Nothing," said Laura wearily.

The negress reluctantly turned to go. Her work now finished, there was
no further excuse for remaining. Slowly she left the room, carrying her
broom and dustpan with her.

CHAPTER XI.

Immediately the maid had disappeared, Laura sprang to her feet and
picked up John's letter. It was only with the greatest difficulty that
she had managed to curb her impatience. Eagerly she tore open the
envelope.

The letter consisted, as usual, of several pages closely written.
Things were pretty much the same, he said. It was a wonderful country,
vast and unconquered, a land where man was constantly at war with the
forces of Nature. Extraordinary finds were being made every day; one
literally picked up gold nuggets by the handful. If he and his partner
were only reasonably lucky, there was no reason why they should not
become enormously rich. He hoped his little girl was happy and
prosperous. He was sure she was true. Each night when he went to sleep
in his tent, he placed two things under his pillow, things that had
become necessary to his salvation--a Colt revolver and her sweet
photograph. He quite understood that it was difficult to secure good
engagements, especially since Brockton's backing was withdrawn, but he
advised her to take heart and accept anything she could get--for the
present. It would not be for long. When he came back, rich beyond the
dreams of avarice, she would not have to worry about theatre managers
any more.

She read the letter through hurriedly, re-read it, and then, pressing
the missive to her lips, laid it down on the table.

"Accept anything!" she murmured. "Ah, he does not understand. How
should he? If only there was something to accept!" Rising wearily, she
sighed: "Hope, just nothing but hope."

Her mouth quivered, and her bosom, agitated by the emotion she was
trying hard to suppress, rose and fell convulsi