ne, then, with a smile, "at least it was a wilderness before you
came. I wonder if you would do--" she broke off suddenly, her eyes
brilliant.

"Tell me, and I'll do it."

She clapped her hands. "I wish you would visit us all when we go
camping next month; you'd like it."

"I'm sure I would, but--"

"But what? I knew there'd be something."

"I'd have to take the works with me."

"But you said you'd do it." She glanced at him as though confidence
were shattered.

"Then I will, if it's humanly possible."

"It will be about a hundred miles down the lake, near Manitoulin
Island. Father knows."

"I'm glad father knows," he smiled.

The girl walked slowly back with the feeling that she had seen further
into the heart of this remarkable man than ever before. Opposite the
blockhouse, at which she looked with a strange sensation, she met
Belding, swinging in from the far corner of the works with a transit
over his shoulder. She seemed thoughtful and distrait, and he glanced
at her puzzled.

"Been exploring? I didn't know you were coming up."

"I didn't know either," she said a little nervously. "Will you come
back to lunch?"

"Sorry, I'm too busy. Where have you been?"

"Over at the rapids. And, Jim, see what Mr. Clark gave me."

"Gold?" he said sharply.

"Yes, isn't it wonderful?"

"Who found it?"

"One of Mr. Clark's prospectors, Fisette."

"And who told you?"

"Mr. Clark himself." The girl had a sudden sense of discomfort. Why
was Belding so inquisitive?

"I haven't heard anything about it," he said shortly.

"No one has outside of the office, except myself."

"But why should Clark tell you?"

"I don't know. Why shouldn't he?"

Belding thrust the legs of his instrument into the ground. "I have an
idea that he's telling you too much." The young man's eyes were hot
with resentment.

"Jim, how dare you!"

"Well, where do I come in? You haven't been much interested in me the
last year or so."

She flushed. "That's not fair. You know how fond I am of you."

"But Clark doesn't need you--and I do."

"Do you object to my having friends?" she said tremulously.

"Elsie, will you marry me to-morrow?" Belding's voice was shaky but in
deadly earnest.

"What nonsense."

He shook his head. "It isn't to me,--I mean it. There is no one else.
There never will be. Can't you realize that?"

"I don't want to be married--now--" she said slowly.

He snatched up his transit. "