at's in
a man. I can't see why getting wet and half frozen, working fourteen
hours a day, and often going without your dinner, should have a
refining influence, but it has. Besides, I'm inclined to think you
have learned more in the Northwest than they could have taught you at
an English university. Anyhow, you'll find my people aren't hard to
please."

"When are you going to California?" Foster, who felt half embarrassed,
asked.

"Let's fix Thursday next, and I'll start with you."

"But I'm going east, and your way's by Vancouver."

"Just so," said Featherstone dryly. "For all that, I think I'll start
east, and then get on to a west-bound train at a station down the line.
The folks at the Crossing know I'm going home, and I don't want to put
Daly on my track." He smoked in silence for a few moments, and then
added: "I wonder whether Austin helped the fellow to get after me?"

Foster looked up with surprise, but admitted that his partner might be
right. Austin was a real-estate agent who now and then speculated in
lumber and mineral claims. He had some influence at the Crossing
where, however, he was more feared than liked, since he lent money and
bought up mortgages. On three or four occasions he had been a business
rival of Foster and Featherstone's, and the former thought he might not
have forgiven them for beating him.

"It's possible," he said thoughtfully. "But you don't imagine Daly
told him what he knows about you?"

"I should think it most unlikely," Featherstone rejoined. "Daly means
to keep all he can get for himself, but if he gave Austin a hint that
he could injure me, the fellow might be willing to help. He's pretty
often up against us; but we'll let that go. You're a friend of Carmen
Austin's, and as you'll meet her at the reunion, it might be better if
you didn't tell her I have changed my plans. Of course, I don't mean
to hint that she has anything to do with her father's schemes."

Foster laughed. He liked Carmen Austin and was mildly flattered by the
favor she showed him, but thought he knew her well enough not to attach
much importance to this. Carmen was clever and ambitious, and would,
no doubt, choose a husband who had wealth and influence. Though very
young, she was the acknowledged leader of society at the Crossing.

"You needn't be afraid of hurting my feelings," he said. "To some
extent I do enjoy Miss Austin's patronage, but I know my drawbacks and
don't cherish an