t of us were corraled in the Blue Chip,
and Geoff, he was shot down along with a lot of others."

"Dead! How unfortunate! Can you tell me if he left any family; a
daughter, for instance?"

"Sa-ay!" Jim folded his arms on the bar and gazed levelly at his
guest. "What's it to you if he did? I happen to be Geoff's
executor----"

"Ah, that simplifies matters." The stranger drew a card-case from his
pocket. "I am Mason North, of the firm of North, Manning and
Gilchrist, attorneys. We are looking for a young woman known as the
daughter of this Gentleman Geoff, to notify her of something to her
advantage. Can you tell me where she may be found?"

"Known as his daughter?" Jim stammered. "Billie _is_ his daughter,
damn it! There ain't no other young woman----"

"'Billie'?" repeated North sharply. "A derivative, no doubt. That is
significant. I should like very much to see this Miss 'Billie'----"

"Then you've only got to turn your head!" A clear young voice sounded
from the doorway, and the attorney wheeled to confront the object of
his quest.

"Lord, Billie, where'd you vamoose to? The whole town's been askin'
for you for the last three days!" Jim remembered his manners. "This
is Mr. North. He's a lawyer and he says he's got some news for you."

Billie shook hands gravely.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. North."

"And I to meet you, my dear young lady. I have had a long search for
you."

"Do you mean----" her eyes were wide--"that you've come all the way
down here just to see me?"

He smiled.

"I have been searching for you for more than two years. There are some
questions I must ask you. Can we talk here privately without
interruption, Mr. Baggott?--No, don't go!" as Jim started for the door.
"As the chief executor of--ah, Gentleman Geoff, you are presumably this
young lady's de-facto guardian and your presence is imperative."

Considerably impressed, Jim turned a chair around and seated himself
astride it, folding his arms across the back.

"Fire away. I'm listening," he said briefly.

"Has this news anything to do with Dad?" asked Billie.

"Partly, my dear. It concerns you, principally; you, and your
antecedents." North took a sheaf of papers from his pocket, and
produced a fountain pen. "Did you ever hear of a place called Topaz
Gulch?"

"Yes. Dad and I were there when I was a little girl. There was a big
fire; I can just remember seeing it. We left soon after, I think."

"A