ut!" replied Connolly with generous enthusiasm. "I don't leave
no pard of mine in a hole. Say," he cried, turning to Cameron, "about
that lady. Ha! ha!"

"Shut your ugly mug!" said the doctor savagely.

"It's the same lady. Ha! ha! Good joke, eh, Sergeant?"

"Same lady?" echoed Cameron.

"Sure, same lady."

"What does he mean, Martin?"

"The man's drunk, Cameron. He got a permit last week and he hasn't been
sober for a day since."

"Ha! ha!" laughed Connolly again. "Wish I had a chance."

"But the lady?" said Cameron, looking at his friend suspiciously. "And
these blushes?"

"Oh, well, hang it!" said Martin. "I suppose I might as well tell you.
I found out that your sister was to be in on this train, and in case you
should not turn up I told Connolly here to have a room ready."

"Oh," said Cameron, with his eyes upon his friend's face. "You found
out? And how did you find out that Moira was coming?"

"Well," said Martin, his face growing hotter with every word of
explanation, "you have a wife and we have a mutual friend in our little
nurse, and that's how I learned. And so I thought I'd be on hand
anyway. You remember I met your sister up at your Highland home with the
unpronounceable name."

"Ah, yes! Cuagh Oir. Dear old spot!" said Cameron reminiscently. "Moira
will be heart broken every day when she sees the Big Horn Ranch, I'm
afraid. But here comes Mandy."

The meeting between the doctor and Cameron's wife was like that between
old comrades in arms, as indeed they had been through many a hard fight
with disease, accident and death during the construction days along the
line of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Rocky Mountains.

A jolly hour they had together at supper, exchanging news and retailing
the latest jokes. And then Cameron told his friend the story of old
Copperhead and of the task laid upon him by Superintendent Strong.
Martin listened in grave silence till the tale was done, then said with
quiet gravity:

"Cameron, this is a serious business. Why! It's--it's terrible."

"Yes," replied Mandy quickly, "but you can see that he must do it. We
have quite settled that. You see there are the women and children."

"And is there no one else? Surely--"

"No, there is no one else quite so fit to do it," said Mandy.

"By Jove, you're a wonder!" cried Martin, his face lighting up with
sudden enthusiasm.

"Not much of a wonder," she replied, a quick tremor in her voice. "Not
much of a