ose.

"My own opinion is that both you and Stampa have taken an unreasonable
dislike to Mr. Bower," she said determinedly. The words were out
before she quite realized their import. She flushed a little.

Spencer was gazing down into the gorge of the Orlegna. The brawling
torrent chimed with his own mood; but his set face gave no token of
the storm within. He only said quietly, "How good it must be to have
you as a friend!"

"I have no reason to feel other than friendly to Mr. Bower," she
protested hotly. "It was the rarest good fortune for me that he came
to Maloja. I met him once in London, and a second time, by accident,
during my journey to Switzerland. Yet, widely known as he is in
society, he was sufficiently large minded to disregard the sneers and
innuendoes of some of those horrid women in the hotel. He has gone out
of his way to show me every kindness. Why should I not repay it by
speaking well of him?"

"I shall lay my head on the nearest tree stump, and you can smite me
with your ax, good and hard," said Spencer.

She laughed angrily. "I don't know what evil influence is possessing
us," she cried. "Everything is awry. Even the sun refuses to shine.
Here am I storming at one to whom I owe my life----"

"No," he broke in decisively. "Don't put it that way, because the
whole credit of the relief expedition is due to Stampa. Say, Miss
Wynton, may I square my small services by asking a favor?"

"Oh, yes, indeed."

"Well, then, if it lies in your power, keep Stampa and Bower apart. In
any event, don't intervene in their quarrel."

"So you are quite serious in your belief that there is a quarrel?"

The American saw again in his mind's eye the scene in the crevasse
when Bower had raised his ax to strike. "Quite serious," he replied,
and the gravity in his voice was so marked that Helen placed a
contrite hand on his arm for an instant.

"Please, I am sorry if I was rude to you just now," she said. "I have
had a long day, and my nerves are worn to a fine edge. I used to
flatter myself that I hadn't any nerves; but they have come to the
surface here. It must be the thin air."

"Then it is a bad place for an American."

"Ah, that reminds me of something I had forgotten. I meant to ask you
how you came to remain in the Maloja. Is that too inquisitive on my
part? I can account for the presence of the other Americans in the
hotel. They belong to the Paris colony, and are interested in tennis
and golf. I ha