weak for he remembered that
she had his word. He had given his word and unless she excused him he
would have to make it good. And if he did--well, right there he would
lose control of his mine.

"Say, now listen a minute," he began mysteriously, "I'm not telling
this on the street----"

"Well, don't tell it here, then," she interrupted hastily, "they're
listening, most of the time."

She pointed towards the door that led to the hotel lobby and Rimrock
tiptoed towards it. He was just in time, as he snatched it open, to
see McBain bounding up the back stairs; and a woman in a rocker, after
a guilty stare, rose up and moved hastily away.

"Well, well," observed Rimrock as he banged the door. "I don't know
which is worse, these women or peeping Andrew McBain. Are you still
working for that fellow?" he enquired confidentially as he sat down and
spoke low in her 'phone; and for the first time that day the smile came
back and dwelt for a moment in her eyes.

"Yes," she answered, "I still do his work for him. What's the
matter--don't you fully approve?"

Her gaze was a challenge and he let it pass with a grin and a jerk of
the head.

"Just sorry for you," he said. "You'd better take this money and get a
job with a man that's half white."

He drew out his roll and counted out four thousand dollars and laid
them before her on the desk.

"Now listen," he began. "That four hundred then was worth four
thousand to me now. I had to have it, and I sure appreciate it--now
just accept that as a payment in part."

He pushed over the money, but she shook her head and met his gaze with
resolute eyes.

"Not much," she said, "I don't want your money and, what's more, I
won't accept it. I gave you four hundred dollars--all the money I
had--to get me a share in that mine, and now I want it. I don't care
how much, but I want a share in that mine."

Rimrock shoved back his chair and once more the sweat appeared on his
troubled brow. He rose up softly and peeped out the door, then came
back and sat very close.

"What's the idea?" he asked. "Has some one been telling you who I've
got in with me on this deal? Well, what's the matter then? Why won't
you take the money? I'll give you more than you could get for the
stock."

"No, all my life it's been my ambition to own a share in a mine.
That's why I gave you the last of my money--I had confidence in your
mine from the start."

"Well, what did you think, then?" e