past comes back and the soul mourns over what is
lost--but at dawn the spirits vanish and the work of the world goes on.

Mary Fortune appeared late at the Company office, for she had very
little to do; and even when there she sat tense and silent. Why not?
There was nothing to do. Jepson ran the mine and everything about it,
and Rimrock attended to the rest. All she had to do was to keep track
of the records and act as secretary to the Board of Directors. They
never met now, except perfunctorily, to give Rimrock more money to
spend. He came in as she sat there, dashing past her for some papers,
and was dashing out when she spoke his name.

"Oh, Mr. Jones," she said and, dimly noting its formality, he paused
and questioned her greeting.

"Oh, it's Mister again, is it?" he observed stopping reluctantly.
"Well, what's the matter now?"

"Yes, it's Mister," she said, managing to smile quite naturally. "You
know you told me your name was 'Mister'--since you made your pile and
all that--but, Mister, I'm going away."

"Going away!" exclaimed Rimrock, suddenly turning to look at her; and
then he came hurriedly back.

"Say, what's the matter?" he asked uneasily, "have I done something
else that is wrong?"

"Why, no," she laughed, "what a conscience you have! I'm going East
for an operation--I should have gone long ago. Oh, yes, I've been
thinking about it for quite a while; but now I'm going to go. You
don't know how I dread it. It's very painful, and if it doesn't make
me any better it's likely to make me--."

"Oh," said Rimrock thoughtfully, rubbing his chin, "well, say, when do
you want to go? I'm going East myself and there ought to be one of
us----"

"So soon?" enquired Mary and as Rimrock looked at her he caught a
twinkle in her eyes. Not of merriment exactly, but of swift
understanding and a hidden, cynical scorn.

"What d'ye mean?" he blustered. "Ain't I got a right----"

"Why, certainly," she returned, still with that subtle resentment, "I
have no objections at all. Only it might make a difference to Mr.
Stoddard if he found us both away."

"Aw, that's all bosh!" broke out Rimrock impatiently, "he's got his
hands more than full in New York. I happen to know he's framing up a
copper deal that will lay the Hackmeisters wide open. That's why I
want to go back. Mrs. Hardesty says----"

"Mrs. Hardesty?"

Rimrock stopped and looked down. Then he picked up his hat and made
another false st