e as charming?"

"Something that style," agreed Burke. "What are you drinking, old
chap? Any ice to be had?"

He conferred with the waiter, but Kelly's curiosity was far from
being satisfied. He pounced back upon the subject the moment
Burke's attention was free.

"And is she new to this part of the world then? She came out to be
married, I take it? And what does she think of it at all?"

"You'll have to come over and see for yourself," said Burke.

"So I will, old feller. I'll come on the first opportunity. I'd
love to see the woman who can capture you. Done any shooting
lately, or is wedded bliss still too sweet to leave?"

"I've had a few other things as well to think about," said Burke
drily,

"And this is your first absence? What will the missis do without
you?"

"She'll manage all right. She's very capable. She is helping me
with the farm. The life seems to suit her all right, only I shall
have to see she doesn't work too hard."

"That you will, my son. This climate's hard on women. Look at
poor Bill Merston's wife! When she came out, she was as pretty and
as sweet as a little wild rose. And now--well, it gives you the
heartache to look at her."

"Does it?" said Burke grimly. "She doesn't affect me that way. If
I were in Merston's place,--well, she wouldn't look like that for
long."

"Wouldn't she though?" Kelly looked at him with interest. "You
always were a goer, old man. And what would your treatment consist
of?"

"Discipline," said Burke briefly. "No woman is happy if she
despises her husband. If I were in Merston's place, I would see to
it that she did not despise me. That's the secret of her trouble.
It's poison to a woman to look down on her husband."

"Egad!" laughed Kelly. "But you've studied the subject? Well,
here's to the fair lady of your choice! May she fulfil all
expectations and be a comfort to you all the days of your life!"

"Thanks!" said Burke. "Now let's hear a bit about yourself! How's
the diamond industry?"

"Oh, there's nothing the matter with it just now. We've turned
over some fine stones in the last few days. Plenty of rubbish,
too, of course. You don't want a first-class speculation, I
presume? If you've got a monkey to spare, I can put you on to
something rather great."

"Thanks, I haven't," said Burke. "I never have monkeys to spare.
But what's the gamble?"

"Oh, it's just a lottery of Wilbraham's. He has a notion for
raffling