appened--what's gone wrong? Can I help you with
anything--or--"

Then it was that Harry, with a roll of his blue eyes and a funny waggle
of his big shoulders, moved down the drift toward the stope, leaving
them alone together. Anita Richmond watched after him with a smile,
waiting until he was out of hearing distance. Then she turned
seriously.

"Mother Howard told me where you were," came quietly. "It was the only
chance I had to see you. I--I--maybe I was a little lonely or--or
something. But, anyway, I wanted to see you and thank you and--"

"Thank me? For what?"

"For everything. For that day on the Denver road, and for the night
after the Old Times dance when you came to help me. I--I have n't had
an easy time. And I 've been in rather an unusual position. Most of
the people I know are afraid and--some of them are n't to be trusted.
I--I could n't go to them and confide in them. And--you--well, I knew
the Rodaines were your enemies--and I 've rather liked you for it."

"Thank you. But--" and Fairchild's voice became a bit frigid--"I have
n't been able to understand everything. You are engaged to Maurice
Rodaine."

"I was, you mean."

"Then--"

"My engagement ended with my father's death," came slowly--and there
was a catch in her voice. "He wanted it--it was the one thing that
held the Rodaines off him. And he was dying slowly--it was all I could
do to help him, and I promised. But--when he went--I felt that my--my
duty was over. I don't consider myself bound to him any longer."

"You 've told Rodaine so?"

"Not yet. I--I think that maybe that was one reason I wanted to see
some one whom I believed to be a friend. He 's coming after me at
midnight. We 're to go away somewhere."

"Rodaine? Impossible!"

"They 've made all their plans. I--I wondered if you--if you 'd be
somewhere around the house--if you 'd--"

"I 'll be there. I understand." Fairchild had reached out and touched
her arm. "I--want to thank you for the opportunity. I--yes, I 'll be
there," came with a short laugh. "And Harry too. There'll be no
trouble--from the Rodaines!"

She came a little closer to him then and looked up at him with trustful
eyes, all the brighter in the spluttering light of the carbide.

"Thank you--it seems that I 'm always thanking you. I was afraid--I
did n't know where to go--to whom to turn. I thought of you. I knew
you 'd help me--women can guess those things."

"Can they