tion thereof is more expensive than passenger rates at four
dollars a pound."

Firmstone looked up absently.

"What's that you're saying?"

Zephyr waved his hand languidly.

"I was right. Have been all along. I knew you had more sense than you
could carry in your head. It's all over you, and you got some of it shot
away. I'm trying to make it plain to you that foolishness on paper ain't
near so fatal as inside a skull. Consequently, if them Easterners had
had any serious designs on you, they'd sent the real stuff back in a
Pullman instead of the smell of it by mail."

Firmstone made no reply, but went on with his letter. There was
amusement and indignation on his face as, having finished the letter, he
handed it to Zephyr.

The letter was from Hartwell and was official. Briefly, it expressed
regret over Firmstone's serious accident, satisfaction at his recovery,
and congratulations that a serious complication had been met and
obviated with, all things considered, so slight a loss to the company.
The letter concluded as follows:

We have carefully considered the statement of the difficulties with
which you have been confronted, as reported by our manager, and
fully comprehend them. We have also given equal consideration to
his plans for the rehabilitation of the mine and mill, and heartily
assent to them as well as to his request that you be retained as
our superintendent and that, in addition to your salary, you be
granted a considerable share in the stock of our company. We feel
that we are warranted in pursuing this course with you, recognising
that it is a rare thing, in one having the ability which you have
shown, to take counsel with and even frankly to adopt the
suggestions of another.

By order of the President and Board of Directors of the Rainbow
Milling Company, by

ARTHUR HARTWELL,

Gen. Man. and Acting Secretary.

Zephyr's face worked in undulations that in narrowing concentrics
reached the puckered apex of his lips.

"Bees," he finally remarked, "are ding-twisted, ornery insects. They
have, however, one redeeming quality not common to mosquitoes and black
flies. If they sting with one end they make honey with the other. They
ain't neither to be cussed nor commended. They're just built on them
lines."

Firmstone looked thoughtful.

"I'm inclined to think you're right. If you're looking for honey you've
got to take