if not, 'tis
easy for a cripple to stagger and fall from a rock. Thank God, I leave
her as I found her--small credit to me in that."

Lucius, coming in soon after, found his master unexpectedly cheerful and
vigorous.

In answer to his query, the gambler said: "I take me medicine, Lucius,
like a Cheyenne. 'Tis all in the game. Some man must lose in order that
another may win. The wheel rolls and the board is charged in favor of
the bank. Damn the man that squeals when the cards fall fair."

CHAPTER XXVIII

VIRTUE TRIUMPHS

Mart maintained his deceptive cheer at the breakfast-table, and the
haggard look of the earlier hour passed away as he resolutely attacked
his chop. He spoke of his exile in a tone of resignation--mixed with
humor. "Sure, the old dad will have the laugh on us. He told us this was
the jumpin'-off place."

"What will we do about the house?" asked Bertha. "Will we sell or rent?"

"Nayther. Lave it as it is," replied he quickly. "So long as I live I
want to feel 'tis here ready for ye whinever ye wish to use it. 'Tis not
mine. Without you I never would have had it, and I want no other
mistress in it. Sure, every chair, every picture on the walls is there
because of ye. 'Tis all you, and no one else shall mar it while I live."

This was the note which was most piercing in her ears, and she hastened
to stop it by remarking the expense of maintaining the place--its
possible decay and the like; but to all this he doggedly replied: "I
care not. I'd rather burn it and all there is in it than turn it over to
some other woman. Go you to Ben and tell him my will concerning it."

This gave a new turn to her thought. "I don't want to do that. Why don't
you go and tell him yourself?"

"Didn't the doctor say I must save meself worry? I hate to ask ye to
shoulder the heavy end of this proposition." His face lost its forced
smile. "I'm a sick man, darlin'; I know it now, and I must save meself
all I can. Ye may send Lucius down and bring him up, or we'll drive down
and see him; maybe the ride would do me good, but I can't climb them
stairs ag'in."

The temptation to see Ben once more, alone in the bright office, proved
too great for Bertha's resolution, and she answered: "All right, I'll
go, but only to bring him down to you. You must give the orders about
the house."

In spite of his iron determination to be of good cheer in her presence,
Mart's lips quivered with pain of parting as he looked roun