walked eagerly. In half an hour he had made his way down to the flat
upon which the canvas shanty stood. He came on, the fatigue gone from
a stride that was suddenly buoyant; there was a humorous glint in his
eyes as he counted upon surprising them; he would just say, casually,
that he had dropped in, neighbour-style, for breakfast.

Then he saw Helen, her upturned, laughing face rosy with the
newly-risen sun. Before her, looking down into her eyes, was John
Carr. Howard came abruptly to a dead halt. They saw him, and Helen
called something to him. Again he came on, but the joyous spring had
gone out of his stride and he realized in a dull, strange fashion that
for the first time in his life he was not glad to see his old friend.

Chapter XV

The Golden Secret

'Good morning, Mr. Howard!' cried Helen gaily. Her cheeks were still
rosy, flushed, thought Howard quickly, less with the flood of the dawn
than with some sudden rush of blood stirred by something that Carr had
been saying. Then as she gave him her hand, inspired by the imp of the
moment, she ran on: 'You should have been here last night! Shouldn't
he, Mr. Carr? Sanchia was here!'

'Mrs. Murray?' demanded Howard, wondering and therefore floundering
into Helen's trap. 'What was she doing here?'

Helen appeared to be in the lightest of spirits this morning. Her
laughter was one of sheer joyousness. Her eyes were dancing as she
retorted:

'Mrs. Murray? Who said Mrs. Murray? I was talking about Sanchia. Mr.
Chuck Evans rode her over last night, asking if we had seen you.'

Howard bit his lip. Carr laughed. Then, seeing the look upon his
friend's face, he grew grave immediately and put out his own hand,
saying merely:

'We wondered what had become of you, Al. And now to have you come in
from that direction--and on foot! What's happened?'

'A side-winder scared my horse into breaking its tie-rope and leaving
me on foot. And I've had enough walking to last me seven incarnations.
Hello, Mr. Longstreet,' as he saw the professor step out of his canvas
house. Howard went forward to meet him, leaving John Carr with Helen.

'Just the man I was wishing to see,' beamed Longstreet, shaking hands
enthusiastically. 'I was on the verge of taking up the matter with
your good friend Carr last night, but something prompted me to wait
until this morning, in hopes you would come. I--I seem to know you
better, somehow.' He lowered his voice co