f left to himself; but farming was the only occupation on the
lonely prairie. Loneliness was essential, because he must be kept away
from the settlements. But she saw the weak point in this reasoning,
because Bob need not be left to himself. She would, so to speak, stand
over him and see he did his work. Well, it looked as if she must let
her ambitions go, and she got up, straightening her body with a little
resolute jerk.

"Tell the boss I want him," she said to the clerk.

Charnock came in, looking haggard and somewhat ashamed, and Sadie knew
she had made the right choice when he sat down where the light touched
his face. For a moment he blinked and frowned.

"I wish you'd pull down that blind," he said. "The sun's in my eyes, and
I can't get round the desk."

Sadie did so, and then silently gave him Wilkinson's bill. He gazed at
the paper with surprise, and colored.

"I'd no idea I lost so much. Why did you pay him?"

"Because you can't," said Sadie. "He thought you had a share in the
business when he risked his dollars."

"I suppose that means you told him I wasn't your partner?"

"It does."

"I see," said Charnock, with some dryness. "You thought he'd leave me
alone if he knew I wasn't worth powder and shot? Well, I believe
it's very possible." Then he paused and smiled. "I can imagine his
astonishment when you asked for a bill, and must admit that you're a
sport. All the same, it's humiliating to have my friends told you don't
trust me with money."

"The trouble is I can't trust you. Now you listen, Bob. This tanking and
gambling has got to be stopped."

"I'm afraid I've given you some bother," Charnock answered penitently.
"For all that, I'm not so bad as I was. In fact, I really think I'm
steadying down by degrees, and since you have paid my debts I don't mind
promising--"

"By degrees won't do; you have got to stop right off. Besides, you know
how much your promises are worth."

Charnock colored. "That's rather cruel, Sadie, but I suppose it's
deserved."

"I don't mean what you think; not your promise to Miss Dalton," Sadie
answered with some embarrassment. "You told me you wouldn't drive over
to Wilkinson's again, and the first time I wasn't about you went. Very
well. Since I can't trust you round the settlement, we're going to quit.
I've decided to sell out the business as soon as I can get the price I
want."

"Sell the store and hotel!" Charnock exclaimed. "I suppose you know
you'd get t