very wealthy man. I can't be utterly
Quixotic. We've all got to help him all we can."

"Oh, thank you, Searle--thank you for saying 'we,'" she said in a voice
that slightly trembled. "I'm glad of the chance--glad to show dear
Glen that a sister can help a little, too."

He stared at her with an excellent imitation of surprise in his gaze.

"You'll--help?" he said in astonishment, masterfully simulated. "Not
with the other thirty thousand?"

"Why not?" she cried. "Why not, when Glen has the chance of his life?
You don't really think I'd hesitate?"

"But," said he, leading her onward, "he needs the money now--at once.
You'd have to get it here by wire, and all that sort of trouble."

"Then we'd better get things started," she said. "You'll help me,
Searle, I'm sure."

"If you wish it," said Bostwick, "certainly."

"Dear Glen!" she said. "Dear boy! I'll write him a letter at once."

Bostwick started, alertly, as she ran in her girlish pleasure to a
stand where she had placed her materials for writing.

"Good," he commented drily, "I'll mail it with one of my own."

She dashed off a bright effusion with all her spontaneous enthusiasm.
Bostwick supplied her with the address, and presently took the letter
in his hand. He had much to do at the bank, he informed her, by way of
preparing for the deal. He promised to return when he could.

On his way down street be deliberately tore the letter to the smallest
of fragments and scattered them widely on the wind.

CHAPTER XVII

UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS

On the following morning news arrived in Goldite that temporarily
dimmed the excitement attendant upon stories of the "Laughing Water"
property and the coming stampede to the Indian reservation.

Matt Barger and three others of the convicts, still uncaptured, had
pillaged a freight team, of horses, provisions, and arms, murdered a
stage driver, robbed the express of a large consignment of gold, and
escaped as before to the mountains.

Two separate posses were in pursuit. Rewards aggregating ten thousand
dollars were offered for Barger, dead or alive, with smaller sums for
each of his companions. Their latest depredations had occurred
alarmingly close to the mining camp, from which travel was becoming
hazardous.

The gold theft was particularly disquieting to the Goldite mining
contingent. Dangers beset their enterprises in many directions at the
very best. To have this menace added, together