rd it.

"Somebody driving in," he remarked. "I shouldn't be astonished if it's
Gregory. He talked about coming over the last time I saw him."

"If he wants to talk about a deal in wheat, he can stay away," said Mrs.
Hastings sharply. "If all one hears is true, he has lost quite a few of
Harry's dollars on the market lately."

Hastings looked troubled at this. "I'd sooner think it was his own money
he'd thrown away."

"That's quite out of the question. He hasn't any."

"Well," said Hastings, with an air of reflection, "I'll get Sproatly to
make inquiries. He'll probably be along with Winifred this evening, and
if he finds that Gregory is getting in rather deep I'll have a word or
two with him. I can't have him wasting Harry's money, and, as one of the
executors, I have a right to protest."

Agatha started at the last word. It had an ominous ring, and she fancied
that Hastings had noticed the effect on her, for he glanced at her
curiously. Turning from him, she rose and walked to the window.

The wheat stretched across the foreground, tall and darkly green, and
beyond it the white grass ran back to the hill, which cut sharply
against a red and smoky glow. The sun had gone down some time before,
and there was an exhilarating coolness in the air. Somehow the sight
reminded her of another evening, when she had looked out across the
prairie from a seat at Wyllard's table. Almost a year had passed since
then.

The wagon drew nearer down the long slope of the hill, and the beat of
hoofs that grew steadily louder in a sharp staccato made the memories
clearer. She had heard Dampier riding in the night Wyllard had received
his summons, and now she wondered who the approaching stranger was, and
what his business could be. She did not know why, but she thought it was
not Gregory.

Presently Hastings looked round again. "It's the team Bramfield hires
out at the settlement," he said. "None of our friends would get him to
drive them in. There seem to be two men in the wagon. Bramfield will be
one. I can't make out the other."

Mrs. Hastings, who was evidently becoming curious about the unexpected
guest, went to his side, and they stood watching the wagon until Agatha
made an abrupt movement.

"It's Captain Dampier!" she exclaimed with foreboding in her voice.

She stood tensely still, with lips slightly parted, and a strained look
in her eyes, while Hastings gazed at the wagon for another moment or
two.

"Yes," he said