's rather
mysterious association with Daly. Public feeling had been strongly
roused by the dispute about the mine, whose finders it was believed had
been cunningly cheated out of their rights. There were, moreover,
hints of foul play about a dangerous accident in the workings that had
given the victorious claimants a legal advantage. Foster could imagine
Daly's finding scope for his talents in the trickery and intrigue, and
saw why Austin did not want his share in it known.

"In a way, it's a relief to find that's all your father had to do with
the fellow," he resumed. "Anyhow, I want his address."

"I won't give it you," Carmen answered stubbornly.

Foster hesitated. The shock the girl had got had broken down her
self-control. He shrank from turning this to his advantage and dealing
her another blow, but could not be fastidious when his partner's safety
and Alice Featherstone's happiness were at stake. Besides, it would be
better for Carmen that her infatuation for Daly should be altogether
destroyed.

"Well," he said, "I'm surprised that you should still feel you ought to
protect the man, and must try to convince you that he doesn't deserve
it."

Then he related what he had seen in the corridor of the Carlisle hotel
and how Miss Huntley had helped Daly to deceive him. Carmen's face
paled and then suddenly turned crimson; but she answered with a
quietness he had not expected:

"You're not a liar, Jake, so I suppose this is true. But you're all of
you human, and you say the girl is pretty. What you saw mayn't mean
very much."

"She wore an engagement ring. I don't imagine it was given her by
another man."

Then Carmen flung the last of her self-control away. Her eyes flashed
and Foster thought she looked like a wild cat as she indulged her
savage rage.

"The cur!" she cried in a harsh voice. "He went to Banff, in British
Columbia. Now you know, you had better go after him. Do what you like
with him; I don't mind!"

Foster went to the door, but as he reached it she called him back and
looked at him with a bitter, mocking smile.

"You're smarter than I thought, Jake, but I suppose you think I don't
know why you meddled! It wasn't for your partner's sake, though I soon
guessed that Daly was getting after him; Featherstone has a sister, and
you have fallen in love with her. Well, she can have you with pleasure
if she has any use for you, and before long you'll make her deadly
tired. You'd b