it was just nothing but sand spread out on a flat surface. But
look at those flowers! Did you ever see anything more delicate for
colour and form?"

"Most people think that way about the desert," said Clifford. "There are
more than sixty distinct varieties of vegetation this side of the river
between here and Red Stone Tank. Mr. Bauer can tell you the names of
some of 'em. He has begun to make a collection."

Bauer modestly replied in answer to a question from Helen that he had
classified only a few distinct species that he had found in his short
strolls from the Mission. He had the book with his things at Tolchaco
and would show it to her when they came back.

"I didn't know you cared for Botany," said Helen a little flippantly. "I
supposed you were all absorbed in your inventions."

Bauer's face changed colour slightly.

"I have always enjoyed God's earth," he said. "Anything that grows is
always more wonderful than anything that has to be made."

"I should think this would be a good place to try your incubator, it's
so hot," said Helen, feeling that she had made a foolish remark, but
letting it go rather than try to apologise to Bauer for her poor
judgment of him.

"Oh, say, tell us about that incubator," said Clifford. "Must be a lot
of money in a thing like that. I believe we could use some of 'em out
here to good advantage and make something for the Mission. There's a
great demand for broilers at Flagstaff, and the Harvey eating houses
would give us big money for any quantity of either eggs or young
chickens. If we could only educate 'em to live on sand and cactus.
Trouble is, feed is so high and we're so used to eating up everything,
that there ain't anything left over from meals, to give to chickens. I
suppose there ain't any way to fatten chickens without feeding 'em."

When Clifford spoke of Bauer's invention as a money maker, Helen was
reminded again of what she had almost forgotten, that Bauer had lost the
largest part of his profits from the sale of the patent rights.

Walter had written home about Bauer's father returning a part of what he
had stolen, and of Bauer's quiet acceptance of the event. Helen, as she
caught the look on his face whenever he partly turned about to speak to
those on the seat behind, could not help feeling a real interest in
him----if only he were not so plain looking, and so serious and above
all, so poor, and so destined to remain poor. No; she shut her eyes,
opened them