is visitors'. But it
appeared that he was kindly and eager to accommodate. He got up and
closed the door, and once, after they had begun talking, went on tiptoe
to open it again and peered out into the hall as though he suspected
that some one was listening. He seemed a broad-minded chap, waving
technicalities aside, assuring Longstreet that what he wanted done was
quite the simplest thing in the world. No, it was not necessary for
him to come in person to the office; Bates himself was authorized to
make the necessary entries and draw up the papers. Oh, yes; he knew
all about Dry Gulch. But he did not seem in the least excited about
the discovery; in fact, at the end of the conversation, he said dryly
that he feared that the mine would not pan out. Other men had thought
before now that they had found gold in the Last Ridge country, and
their findings had never amounted to anything.

'I'll mail the papers to you at Big Run,' he said, rising at the end of
the interview. 'There will be a small fee which you may pay at your
convenience.'

The three went out together. Bates waved a genial good-bye and strode
off toward the court-house. Suddenly Sanchia appeared restless, almost
feverish to be gone.

'I must hurry back to the milliner's,' she said. 'Good-bye.'

Longstreet, abruptly deserted by his two companions, mounted to return
to the hotel. But Sanchia suddenly came back to him.

'I'd rather you didn't say anything about my helping you,' she said
hurriedly. 'I don't like the idea of coming to a place like the
Montezuma, even upon a business matter of urgency like yours. Mr.
Howard has such old-fashioned ideas, too, and he might misunderstand.
And even Helen---- You won't mention me at all, will you?'

Again her smile was pleading, child-like. Longstreet assured her that
he would respect her wishes.

'You can just say to Mr. Howard that you saw Bates and got everything
in shape,' she suggested. 'Good-bye.'

She was gone, racing again, riding toward the milliner's--and, when
once out of Longstreet's sight, turning into the road beyond which led
to Big Run.

Chapter XVII

Howard Holds the Gulch

'Look at the mysterious gentleman!' said Helen, laughing, as her father
returned to them upon the hotel porch. Longstreet observed that she
appeared to be in the best of spirits. 'Look at the light in his eye!
Can't you just tell that he thinks he has a secret? Papa,' and she
squeezed his arm,