He thought she felt it was necessary to defend her father, and she had
done so. Indeed, he admitted that one must respect the man who had, with
uncomplaining patience, for years carried on his disliked task for his
wife and children's sake. Longing for the woods and the silent trail,
Strange must have found it irksome to count dollar bills and weigh
groceries in the store; but he had done his duty, and borne hardship and
failure when at last freedom came. Still the girl must not know what he
had become.

Agatha asked him a number of questions and then got up. "Thank you," she
said. "I will take the photograph and would like you to keep the
specimen of ore."

"I will keep it; but I wonder why you wish to give it me?"

She smiled. "I believe in the lode and would like you to believe in it,
too. You are a mining engineer and can find out if there is much silver
in the stone."

Then she crossed the lawn to the hotel veranda and left Thirlwell
thoughtful.




CHAPTER III

AGATHA MAKES A PROMISE