, something ignominious in such a death.

Gradually his fear of this misfortune grew less. "What does it matter
where death comes or when it comes? The quicker the better for all
concerned."

Nevertheless, he opened the little phial of medicine which Steele had
given him and swallowed two of the pellets. That they were a powerful
stimulant of the heart he knew, but that an overdose would kill he only
suspected from Steele's word of caution.

They were, indeed, magical in their effect. His brain cleared, his pulse
grew stronger, and the feeling of benumbing weakness which dismayed him
passed away.

The conductor, on his round, found him sitting silently at the window,
very pale and very stern, his eyes fixed upon the brawling stream along
whose winding course the railway climbed. While noting the number of
Mart's pass the official leaned over and spoke in a low voice, but Haney
heard what he said as through a mist. He was no longer moved by the
sound of the bugle. A labor war was temporary, like a storm in the
pines. It might arrest the mining for a few weeks or a month, but
through it all, no matter what happened, deep down in the earth lay
Bertha's wealth, secure of any marauder. So much he was able to reason
out.

One or two of the passengers who knew him drew near, civilly inquiring
as to his health, and to each one he explained that he was on the gain
and that he was going up to the camp to study conditions for himself.
They were all greatly excited by the news of battle, but they did not
succeed in conveying their emotion to Haney. With impassive countenance
he listened, and at the end remarked: "'Tis all of a stripe to me, boys.
I'm like the soldier on the battle-field with both legs shot off. I hear
the shouting and the tumult, but I'm out of the running."

Without understanding his mood, they withdrew, leaving him alone. His
mind went back to Bertha. "What will she do when she finds me gone? She
will not be scared at first. She will wire to stop me; but no
matter--before she can reach me, I'll be high in the hills."

He could not prevent his mind from dwelling on her. He tried to fix his
thoughts upon his life as a boyish adventurer, but could not keep to
those earlier periods of his career. All of his days before meeting her
seemed base or trivial or purposeless. She filled his memory to the
exclusion of all other loves and desires. She was at once his wife and
his child. He possessed a thousand bright