the same
time pulling on his mittens. "I'm only going to get some water."

He gathered the empty pails and cooking pots together and opened the
door. He looked back at her.

"Don't forget you're to tell Mr.--er--Haythorne who I am."

Messner broke the skin that had formed on the water-hole within the hour,
and filled his pails. But he did not return immediately to the cabin.
Leaving the pails standing in the trail, he walked up and down, rapidly,
to keep from freezing, for the frost bit into the flesh like fire. His
beard was white with his frozen breath when the perplexed and frowning
brows relaxed and decision came into his face. He had made up his mind
to his course of action, and his frigid lips and cheeks crackled into a
chuckle over it. The pails were already skinned over with young ice when
he picked them up and made for the cabin.

When he entered he found the other man waiting, standing near the stove,
a certain stiff awkwardness and indecision in his manner. Messner set
down his water-pails.

"Glad to meet you, Graham Womble," he said in conventional tones, as
though acknowledging an introduction.

Messner did not offer his hand. Womble stirred uneasily, feeling for the
other the hatred one is prone to feel for one he has wronged.

"And so you're the chap," Messner said in marvelling accents. "Well,
well. You see, I really am glad to meet you. I have been--er--curious
to know what Theresa found in you--where, I may say, the attraction lay.
Well, well."

And he looked the other up and down as a man would look a horse up and
down.

"I know how you must feel about me," Womble began.

"Don't mention it," Messner broke in with exaggerated cordiality of voice
and manner. "Never mind that. What I want to know is how do you find
her? Up to expectations? Has she worn well? Life been all a happy
dream ever since?"

"Don't be silly," Theresa interjected.

"I can't help being natural," Messner complained.

"You can be expedient at the same time, and practical," Womble said
sharply. "What we want to know is what are you going to do?"

Messner made a well-feigned gesture of helplessness. "I really don't
know. It is one of those impossible situations against which there can
be no provision."

"All three of us cannot remain the night in this cabin."

Messner nodded affirmation.

"Then somebody must get out."

"That also is incontrovertible," Messner agreed. "When three bodies
canno