proud to be otherwise than a veracious man. "Well," he said slowly, "I
have the honour of telling you I didn't get the letter. There's a
place called Somasco down in Vancouver."

Miss Deringham decided that she had ventured sufficiently far. Indeed,
on subsequent reflection she was forced to admit that she had gone
farther than was quite seemly, which somewhat naturally increased her
displeasure against the man. In the meanwhile she, however, made a
little gracious gesture. "Then I don't think the explanation was
necessary," she said.

Alton laughed a little, and held out his hand. "Do you know I'm
thankful that's over once for all, and now we can be friends," he said.
"There are lots of things I can show you in the valley, and a good deal
more that you can teach me."

Alice Deringham could not afterwards quite decide why she shook hands
with him, for she had no intention of teaching him anything, just then;
but she did, and felt as the hard brown fingers closed upon her own
that the friendship of this curious man could in time of necessity be
relied upon. In any case, and obeying some impulse, she shook off her
chilliness, and asking questions about the district evinced a gracious
interest in all he had to tell her, while presently induced by his
naive frankness she smiled at him as she noticed him regarding her
gravely.

"I presume a dress of this kind is scarcely suitable for the bush," she
said.

Alton laughed. "I wasn't looking at the dress, though it's a very