nt to ask you a further favor."

"This one is promised before you ask it," said Winston quietly.

It cost Maud Barrington some trouble to make her wishes clear, and
Winston's smile was not wholly one of pleasure as he listened. One of
the young English lads, who was, it appeared, a distant connection of
the girl's, had been losing large sums of money at a gaming table, and
seeking other equally undesirable relaxations at the railroad
settlement. For the sake of his mother in England, Miss Barrington
desired him brought to his senses, but was afraid to appeal to the
Colonel, whose measures were occasionally more Draconic than wise.

"I will do what I can," said Winston. "Still, I am not sure that a lad
of the kind is worth your worrying over, and I am a trifle curious as
to what induced you to entrust the mission to me?"

The girl felt embarrassed, but she saw that an answer was expected.
"Since you ask, it occurred to me that you could do it better than
anybody else," she said.

"Please don't misunderstand me, but I fancy it is the other man who is
leading him away."

Winston smiled somewhat grimly. "Your meaning is quite plain, and I am
already looking forward to the encounter with my fellow-gambler. You
believe that I will prove a match for him."

Maud Barrington, to her annoyance, felt the blood creep to her
forehead, but she looked at the man steadily, noticing the quiet
forcefulness beneath his somewhat caustic amusement.

"Yes," she said, simply; "and I shall be grateful."

In another few minutes she was galloping across the prairie, and when
she rejoined her aunt and Barrington, endeavored to draw out the
latter's opinion respecting Courthorne's venture by a few discreet
questions.

"Heaven knows where he was taught it, but there is no doubt that the
man is an excellent farmer," he said. "It is a pity that he is also to
all intents and purposes mad."

Miss Barrington glanced at her niece, and both of them smiled, for the
Colonel usually took for granted the insanity of any one who questioned
his opinions.

In the meanwhile Winston sat swaying on the driving-seat, mechanically
guiding the horses, and noticing how the prairie sod rolled away in
black waves beneath the great plow. He heard the crackle of fibers
beneath the triple shares, and the swish of greasy loam along the
moldboard's side, but his thoughts were far away, and when he raised
his head, he looked into the dim future beyond the