erward. Usually the performer knows that the thing was a
matter of motive and will, not muscle.

Up in the daylight again, Madeira was quickly himself again. He resumed
charge of affairs in his comprehensive way, and though the mine-boss,
frightened and remorseful, was limp now, all his enthusiasm gone,
Madeira's welled up again strong within him. They went back to their
horses without loss of time, and, waving adieux to Throcker and some of
his men who had gathered about, they were soon journeying back down the
white road toward Joplin. Miss Madeira's hands were in bad condition for
driving, Steering thought, but she had taken the reins just the same.

"We are all dilapidated for the matter of that," she said. "Father is as
grey-faced as a rat, your cheeks are all cut and pricked--my hands don't
count."

Twilight was coming on and a full moon was rising. The great sweep of
flat stretched out about them in a mesh of soft light. The ride back
was gay, and when they stopped at the house of the Joplin man, who was
their host, all three were still in nervously high spirits. A negro
servant came out for the horses, and Steering helped Miss Madeira to
alight. The girl had drawn off her driving gauntlets, and the ungloved
hand that she gave him was scratched and scarred across its brown back.

"Isn't that shameful,--and you did it for me!" mourned Steering.

"Oh, if I could have done more!" she cried breathlessly, "if I could do
more,--as much as you have done for me! If I have not thanked you, you
know,"--what she was saying was fragmentary and confused, but her eyes
were shining sweetly upon him,--"it's because I can't. You must
understand that. I never can talk when I am busy feeling. How are your
shoulders?"

"I don't know that I have any," replied Steering, with wretched
prevarication.

"Come on, Honey, come on." Madeira was at the stone steps of the Joplin
house, and the girl took his arm and climbed the steps with him. At the
top Madeira turned back to Steering, who was a step behind. "Well, old
man, let's have it out now, before we go in and get mixed up with these
strangers. What about those shares? Coming in with us, I reckon?" It was
like Madeira to select a position of advantage like that, a higher place
from which he could look down and dominate, with his daughter beside
him, and it was like him to select a moment like that, a moment when the
three were close, on the very summit of their friendship and symp