ed, "is a thing I'm not
warranted in telling you now."

A suggestive gleam flashed into Winifred's eyes, but it vanished and her
manner became authoritative when she turned back to Sproatly.

"Jim," she said, "you will tell Mr. Hastings all you know."

Sproatly made a gesture of resignation. "After all," he admitted, "I
think it's necessary. Gregory, as I've told you already, put a big
mortgage on his place, and, in view of the price of wheat and the state
of his crop, it's evident that he must have had some difficulty in
meeting the interest, unless--and one or two things suggest this--he
paid it with Harry's money. Of course, as Harry gave him a share,
there's no reason why he shouldn't do this so long as he does not
overdraw that share. There's no doubt, however, that he has lost a good
deal of money on the wheat market."

"Has he lost any of Harry's?" Mrs. Hastings asked.

Sproatly hesitated. "I'm afraid it's practically certain."

Winifred broke in. "Yes," she asserted, "he has lost a great deal.
Hamilton knows almost everything that's going on, and I got it out of
him. He's a friend of Wyllard's, and seems vexed with Gregory."

The others did not speak for a moment or two, and then Mrs. Hastings
said:

"Most of us don't keep much in the bank, and that expedition must have
cost Harry several thousand dollars. How would Gregory get hold of the
money before harvest?"

"Edmonds, who holds his mortgage, would let him have it," Sproatly
explained.

"But wouldn't he be afraid of Gregory not being able to pay, if the
market went against him?"

Sproatly looked thoughtful. "The arrangement Wyllard made with Gregory
would, perhaps, give Edmonds a claim upon the Range if Gregory borrowed
any money in his name. I almost think that's what the money-lender is
scheming for. The man's cunning enough for anything. I don't like him."

Hastings stood up with an air of resolution. "Yes," he said, "I'm afraid
you're quite correct. Anyway, I'll drive over in a day or two, and have
a talk with Gregory."

After that they separated. Hastings strolled away to join Dampier.

Sproatly and Winifred walked out on to the prairie. When they had left
the house Sproatly turned to his companion.

"Why did you insist upon my telling them what I did?" he asked.

"Oh!" answered Winifred, "I had several reasons. For one thing, when I
first came out feeling very forlorn and friendless, it was Wyllard who
sent me to the elevator, and t