n may not be fit for hard
work--I think he said so--and I cannot help growing wrathful at times
when I hear the stories which reach me of commercial avarice and
tyranny."

Geoffrey blew a silver whistle, which summoned the foreman to whom he
gave an order.

"Your _protege_ shall have an opportunity of proving his willingness to
be useful by helping the cook," Thurston said with a smile at Helen.

"Why did you do that--now?" she asked, uncertain whether to be
gratified or angry, and Geoffrey answered, "Because I fancied it would
meet with your approval."

"Then," declared Helen looking past him, "if that was your only motive,
you were mistaken."

The conversation dragged after that, and they were glad when Savine
returned to escort his daughter part of the way to the ranch. When he
rode back into camp alone an hour later, he dismounted with difficulty,
and his face was gray as he reeled into the tent.

"Give me some wine, Thurston--brandy if you have it, and don't ask
questions. I shall be better in five minutes--I hope," he gasped.

Geoffrey had no brandy, but he broke the neck off a bottle of his best
substitute, and Savine lay very still on a canvas lounge, gripping one
of its rails hard for long, anxious minutes before he said, "It is
over, and I am myself again. Hope I didn't scare you!"

"I was uneasy," Thurston replied. "Dare I ask, sir, what the trouble
was?" Savine, who evidently had not quite recovered, looked steadily
at the speaker. "I'll tell you in confidence, but neither my daughter
nor my rivals must hear of this," he said at length. "It is part of
the price I paid for success. I have an affection of the heart, which
may snuff me out at any moment, or leave me years of carefully-guarded
life."

"I don't quite understand you, but perhaps I ought to suggest that you
sit still and keep quiet for a time," Geoffrey replied and Savine
answered, "No. Save for a slight faintness I am as well as--I usually
am. When one gets more than his due share of this world's good things,
he must generally pay for it--see? If you don't, remember as an axiom
that one can buy success too dearly. Meantime, and to come back to
this question's every-day aspect, I want your promise to say nothing of
what you have seen. Helen must be spared anxiety, and I must still
pose as a man without a weakness, whatever it costs me."

"You have my word, sir!" said Geoffrey, and Savine, who nodded,
appeared satisfied.