captured the citadel at a stroke. Had it not been for
some strange sense of shame--some fear that too ready capitulation
might be mistaken for weakness--she would have surrendered then.

"I think that is best," she managed so say. "We will let our
acquaintanceship ripen."

He rose and helped her with her light wrap. His fingers touched her
hand, and it seemed to him the battle was won. . . . But he had
promised not to re-open the subject.

In the street he said, "If you will wait a moment I will take you home
in my car." Their eyes met, and each of them knew what it meant. It
meant announcement to her mother that she had met Dave down town. It
meant, perhaps, a supposition on her mother's part that she had gone
down town for that purpose. It was far-reaching. But she said simply,
"I should enjoy driving home with you."

On the way they planned that the following Sunday they would drive into
the foothills together. Of course they would ask Mrs. Hardy to
accompany them. Of course. But it might happen that Mrs. Hardy would
be indisposed. She was tired with the numerous duties incident to
settling in a new home. Irene was of the opinion that what her mother
needed now was rest.

As it happened, Mrs. Hardy was at the gate. She greeted Dave cordially
enough; it was not possible for Mrs. Hardy to quite forget her
conventional training, just as it was not possible for her to quite
forget that Dave was a one-time cow puncher. Encouraged by her mood
Irene determined to settle the Sunday programme at once.

"Dave was good enough to bring me up in his car," she said. "And just
think! He invites us to drive into the foothills with him next Sunday.
Will you come? It will be delightful. Or are you feeling----"

"Mr. Elden is very kind," said Mrs. Hardy, with dignity. "I have no
doubt Mr. Conward will accompany us. He is to call this evening, and I
will ask him. . . . Yes, I think it very likely we will go."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The summer wore on, and autumn followed on its heels. The processes
which had been discerned by Conward and other astute operators were now
apparent to the mob which forever follows in the wake of the
successful, but usually at such a distance as to be overwhelmed in the
receding flood. The forces which had built up fabulous fortunes were
now in reverse gear, and the same mechanism that had built up was now
tearing down. As the boom had fed upon itself, carrying prices to