he said.

"Don't mention it," said Iron Skull Williams. "Glad to do it any
time--that is, I ain't but--Hell, you know how I feel. Come home for
some breakfast."

Before he went to work that day, Jim wrote a note to Pen.

"DEAR PENELOPE: If there is anything I can do, send for me.
I can't bear to think of that occasional look of tragedy in
your eyes standing for fact. I shall not get over this.
Good-by, little Pen!

JIM."

Pen's answer to this reached Jim the following week.

"DEAR STILL: There is nothing you or anyone else can do.
Sara and I must pay the price for our foolishness. I have
learned more in the past two weeks than in all my life
before. And I shall keep on learning. I can't believe that
I'm only eighteen. Write to me once in a while.

PENELOPE."

This was Jim's answer:

"DEAR PEN: Uncle Denny wrote that you are to stay with him
and mother and that Sara's father has arranged matters so
that money pinch will not add to your burdens. We three are
still mere kids in years so I suppose we shall get over our
griefs to some extent. Let me keep at least a part of my old
faith in you, Pen. In spite of the Hades you are destined to
live through, keep that fine, sweet spirit of yours and keep
that unwarped clarity of vision that belonged to the side of
you, you showed me. It will help you to bear your trouble
and I need this thought of you as much as Sara needs your
nursing. I can't write you, Pen, but wire me if you need me.

JIM."

And then, as Iron Skull had bade him, Jim married his job.

CHAPTER IX

THE MAKON ROAD

"Always the strongest coyote makes the new trail. The pack
is content to continue in the old."

MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.

The building of the road from the valley to the crevice edge was not a
difficult task, although the country was rough. The material for making
the road was at hand, for the most part, and by the end of the summer
there was a broad oiled macadam road, grade carefully proportioned to
grade, leading to the canyon's brim. It was a road built to withstand
the wear of thousands of tons of freight that must be hauled over it.

But the throwing of the road three thousand feet down into the canyon
was a more difficult matter. Here must be built through