ve you've got the mountain fever; there's an awful
lot of it round here this season, and this is just the worst time of
year for an easterner to come out here. But we'll look after you when we
get to Ophir, and bring you round all right."

"Much obliged, but I think I'll be all right after a night's rest,"
Darrell replied, inwardly resolved, upon reaching Ophir, to push on to
the Ajax as quickly as possible, though his ardor was considerably
cooled by Whitcomb's report.

When they left the dining-car the train was stopping at a small station,
and for a few moments the young men strolled up and down the platform. A
dense, bluish-gray haze hung low over the country, rendering the
outlines of even the nearest objects obscure and dim; the western sky
was like burnished copper, and the sun, poised a little above the
horizon, looked like a ball of glowing fire.

Just as the train was about to start Darrell saw the man whose peculiar
actions he had noticed earlier, leave the telegraph office and jump
hastily aboard. Calling Whitcomb's attention as he passed them, he
related his observations of the afternoon and cautioned him against the
man. For an instant Whitcomb looked serious.

"I suppose it was rather indiscreet in me to talk as I did," he said,
"but it can't be helped now. However, I guess it's all right, but I'm
obliged to you all the same."

They passed into the smoker, where Darrell was introduced to Hunter and
Parkinson. In a short time, however, he found himself suffering from
nausea and growing faint and dizzy.

"Gentlemen," he said, "you will have to excuse me. I'm rather off my
base this evening, and I find that smoking isn't doing me any good."

As he rose young Whitcomb sprang instantly to his feet; throwing away
his cigar and linking his arm within Darrell's, he insisted upon
accompanying him to the sleeper, notwithstanding his protests.

"Good-night, Parkinson," he called, cheerily; "see you in the morning!"

He accompanied Darrell to his section; then dropped familiarly into the
seat beside him, throwing one arm affectionately over Darrell's
shoulder, and during the next hour, while the sunset glow faded and the
evening shadows deepened, he confided to this acquaintance of only a few
hours the outlines of his past life and much regarding his hopes and
plans for the future. He spoke of his orphaned boyhood; of the uncle who
had given him a home in his family and initiated him into his own
business m