it was only a dream," he said, "but somehow I can't get the
gold out of my head. I've a notion to go and try them rocks. You might
try in the other direction."

John shrugged his shoulders.

"Won't do any harm as I know of," he said wearily. "Go and try. I'll
stay here a while and nurse my frost bites. When I'm rested I'll go and
try my luck."

His mate rose, and taking his pick, the weight of which was almost too
much for his strength, said cheerily:

"If I find anything, I'll holler," he said.

"I guess you won't holler," replied his comrade, with a wan smile.

When his mate had disappeared, Madison remained sitting by the fire,
staring meditatively into its red depths. He was not thinking of gold
just then, but of a golden-haired girl who was thousands of miles away,
little dreaming of the unexpected fate that had befallen him. He
wondered what Laura was doing, if she was happy and successful. She had
written in rather discouraging tone, saying it seemed impossible to
find the right kind of engagement, but of course that was long ago, at
the beginning of the season. Letters took so long to come from New
York. By this time she must have found something she liked, and in
which she could do herself justice. He did not like to see her on the
stage. It was an artificial, unhealthy life. He had intended, when they
were married, taking her away from her former surroundings for good. It
would not be necessary for her to earn her living. He could have made
enough for both.

When they were married! What cruel irony that sounded now. Perhaps she
would never hear of his fate. Inquiries would be made at Goldfield and
search parties might be sent to scour the brush, but it would be too
late. They would find only their dead bodies, picked clean by the birds
of prey. How happy he might have been. After all his many years, he at
last had found a girl who really cared for him, a girl who was willing
to give up everything for his sake, a girl whose firmness of character
he could not help but respect.

What had he cared what her past had been? The very fact that she had
been willing to abandon her luxurious way of living, and endure
comparative poverty for his sake, was proof enough of her sincerity. He
had hoped she would not have to make a sacrifice long. One day he
thought he would make a lucky "strike" and go back laden with gold,
which he would pour into her lap. How delighted and surprised she would
have been. He would h