id, what do you mean?"

"Is it between us, Doc?"

"Yes."

"For all time?"

"It is."

The Harvester told him. He ended, "Give the fellow his dues, Doc. He had
her at his mercy, utterly alone and unprotected, in a big city. There
was not a living soul to hold him to account. He added to his burdens,
borrowed more money, and sent her here. He thought she was coming to
the country where she would be safe and well cared for until he could
support her. I did the remainder. Now I must undo it, that's all! But
you have got to go in there and practise with him. You've got to show
him every courtesy of the profession. You must go a little over the
rules, and teach him all you can. You will have to stifle your feelings,
and be as much of a man as it is in you to be, at your level best."

"I'm no good at stifling my feelings!"

"Then you'll have to learn," said the Harvester. "If you'd lived through
my years of repression in the woods you'd do the fellow credit. As I see
it, his side of this is nearly as fine as you make it. I tell you she
was utterly stricken, alone, and beautiful. She sought his assistance.
When the end came he thought only of her. Won't you give a young fellow
in a place like Chicago some credit for that? Can't you get through you
what it means?"

Doctor Carey stood frowning in deep thought, but the lines of his face
gradually changed.

"I suppose I've got to stomach him," he said.

The nurse came down the gravel path.

"Mr. Langston, Doctor Harmon asked me to call you," she said.

The Harvester arose and went to the sunshine room.

"What does he want, Molly?" asked the doctor.

"Wants to turn over his job," chuckled the nurse. "He held it about
seven minutes in peace, and then she began to fret and call for the
Harvester. He just sweat blood to pacify her, but he couldn't make it.
He tried to hold her, to make love to her, and goodness knows what, but
she struggled and cried, 'David,' until he had to give it up and send
me."

"Molly," said Doctor Carey, "we've known the Harvester a long time, and
he is our friend, isn't he?"

"Of course!" said the nurse.

"We know this is the first woman he ever loved, probably ever will, as
he is made. Now we don't like this stranger butting in here; we resent
it, Molly. We are on the side of our friend, and we want him to win.
I'll grant that this fellow is fine, and that he has done well, but
what's the use in tearing up arrangements already made? And