m. Hanging's not much use for that kind of man."

Deringham's fingers trembled as he thrust the journal aside, but his
voice was even. "The brandy is rather better than any I've had of
late," he said. "You can give me another glass of it."

For at least ten minutes he lay somewhat limply in the chair, and his
reflections were not pleasant. He had speculated with another man's
money and lost most of it, as well as profited by several transactions
which were little better than a swindle; but that was as far as he had
gone hitherto, and he had in a curious fashion, retained through it all
a measure of inherited pride. Now, however, the disguise was for a
moment torn aside, and he saw himself as he was, a thief and a
miscreant, no better than the brutish bushman who had slain his sick
kinsman for a hundred dollars. There was, as he had read already,
nothing to redeem the sordid, cowardly treachery of that crime.

Deringham was, however, proficient at finding excuses for himself and
shutting his eyes to unpleasant facts, and the phase commenced to pass.
He had, he recollected, plainly stated that he merely desired Alton to
be detained a little amidst the ranges, and it became evident to him
that what had happened was the result of Hallam's villainy. Hallam had
injured him as well as Alton, while there was no controverting the fact
that the rancher's decease would relieve him of a vast anxiety, and his
first indignation against Hallam also melted when he rose composedly
from the chair. He felt that Seaforth expected something of him, and
it appeared advisable to consider what could be done, while a project
already commended itself to him. In another five minutes he had
rejoined his daughter, looking more like the man who urbanely presided
over the not always contented shareholders' meetings. He realized,
however, that he had a slightly difficult task before him.

"You seem to take the news rather badly, father," said the girl.

Deringham smiled deprecatingly. "I have not been quite so well lately,
and it upset me a trifle," said he. "I have a regard for our Canadian
kinsman and have been inclined to fancy that you shared it with me."

"Of course," said the girl indifferently. "Mr. Alton has been
especially kind to us."

"Yes," said Deringham. "Mr. Seaforth must also be very helpless up
there alone, with his comrade seriously ill. Now there is no great
necessity for my journey down the Sound, and I have no