enjoyed them keenly.
His work was finished for the winter, and after the strenuous toil of the
last ten years, it was a new and exhilarating experience to feel at
liberty. Then there was no reason he should deny himself the pleasure he
expected to derive from his trip. Their small mill was only adapted for
the supply of certain kinds of lumber, for which there was now not much
demand, and they had not enough money to remodel it, while business would
not get brisk again until the spring.

By and by he went to the smoking-room and lighting a cigarette, thought
over what Carmen had said to him. At first she had seemed anxious to
find out something about Featherstone, but he was not surprised by this.
Carmen liked to know as much as possible about everybody she met, and
used her knowledge cleverly when it was to her advantage. The other
matter was more puzzling and he wondered why she wanted to send a packet
secretly to a man as old as her father. It might, of course, be a
caprice, because girls were fond of mystery, but, as a rule, Carmen had a
practical object for what she did. She had stated that they had friends
in England, and this might mean that she had a lover. Perhaps she had
exaggerated his age, and in any case, Foster thought it would not be a
great drawback, if the man were rich. Carmen was rather ambitious than
romantic.

Her plans, however, were not his business, and he felt no jealousy. He
liked Carmen and had some respect for her abilities, but thought he would
sooner not marry her, even if she were willing, which was most
improbable. Since he had promised to take the packet, he would do so and
say nothing about the matter.

He left the hall early, and driving home found his partner sitting by the
stove.

"Was Daly at the reunion?" Featherstone asked.

Foster said he was there, and Featherstone resumed thoughtfully: "It's
curious he hasn't come to the mill yet, but if he doesn't turn up before
Thursday, he'll be too late. I'll be ready to start with you by the
afternoon train, and as there's no use in spoiling a good plan for a few
dollars, I'll buy a ticket and check my baggage to Ottawa. Then I'll get
off at Streeton Creek, where I won't have long to wait if the west-bound
train's on time. You can express my things on from Ottawa. The Montreal
express stops about an hour."

"That ought to throw Daly off the track," Foster agreed, and they talked
about something else.

IV

THE