s love was uppermost again. Her distress, whatever its
cause, appealed to all that was best and manliest in him. Just now he
took it to himself. And, in consequence, he found it hard to keep
himself within the bounds of restraint. She was so sweet, so desirable
in the pathetic picture she made.

"Never you worry, Eve," he said, with infinite gentleness. "This is up
to me, and--I'm going to see it through. But here, I'm so full of my
own troubles I'm forgetting all the good things coming your way. Say,
I'm mighty glad of your luck. Will's claim is a bonanza, I'm told. I
hear wonderful accounts of it--and of him." Then his voice lowered and
his calm eyes darkened. "He has straightened up, hasn't he? It's a
great thing. You'll be happier--now. You--you won't need my help--I
mean for him. They tell me he's hit the right trail, and is busy
traveling it." He sighed. "I'm glad, real glad--for you."

But curiously enough his sympathy met with no response. On the
contrary, Eve seemed to freeze up. Every word he uttered lashed her
until she felt she must blurt out to him the thing she believed to be
the truth. But even in her agony of heart and mind she remembered what
she conceived to be her duty, and, in self-defense, assumed a cold
unresponsiveness.

"They say he'll be a way up millionaire," Jim went on, so busy with
his own thoughts that he did not notice her silence. "Gee, and so
easy, too. It's queer how fortune runs. Some folks work like--like
Dagos, and get--mud. Others have gold poured over 'em, whether they
work or not. But he must have worked to find it. Yes, sure. And having
found it you can't blame him for not letting folks into the
secret--eh?"

But Eve had not spoken. It was only a look, and an inarticulate sound.
But it was a look of such abject terror that it could no longer escape
the man's thoughtful eyes. Eve had betrayed herself in her very dread
lest he should suspect. His reference to Will's secret had suggested
suspicion to her, and the rest was the result of her innate honesty
and simplicity.

Jim stared at her. And slowly a curious look crept into his eyes. Her
terror was so evident, and--he thought back over the words that had
inspired it. He was talking of Will--of Will's secret. For the moment
he stood dumbfounded at that which flashed through his mind. Then he
turned slowly, and mechanically threw the reins over his horse's
neck.

When he looked round again Eve was still staring at him. Her t