ince I came out to the Dominion. You see, the old man
paid off everything, though I know now money was very scarce with him
then, and I've wondered sometimes how far it helped to break him. He
died soon after the crash came--and the girls had nothing."

"I think you told me your sisters were married now?"

"Yes," said Seaforth, "Flora sent me back the last exchange somewhat
indignantly, which was why I was able to take my share in the
Consolidated. Still, all that is a little outside the question, isn't
it?"

Alton smiled at his partner, and laid a sinewy hand on his shoulder.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it, Charley," he said. "You were a
young fool, but you have lived it down, and there's the room there has
always been for a good many more like you in the Dominion. Look round
in high places, and you'll see them--good men, and better than they
might have been but for that little trip-up when they were young. Yes,
I've wondered where your dollars went to--and I'm glad we have done so
well now I know. You can stand straight up, Charley, and face the
world again."

Seaforth laughed wryly. "The trouble is that it isn't the world I care
about," he said.

"No," said Alton. "Well, for one has to do the square thing, I think
I'd chance telling somebody the story you told me--though of course
you'd have to put parts of it differently."

Seaforth made a little gesture of despondency. "I'm afraid I haven't
the courage, and--with all that behind me----"

"It--is--behind," said Alton. "And somehow I fancy it would only be
fair to give the person it might concern the opportunity of hearing
you."

Seaforth appeared to check a groan. "There are things that one can
never quite rub out. I was twenty-three then, and now when it is five
years ago, and she is alone in that horrible city, I must keep silent
still. Harry, it's almost unendurable, but, because I must tell that
story, to speak now would be to throw my last chance away."

Alton nodded with grave sympathy. "Yes, I think you're right, and you
must wait. Well, it's time to turn in. With the first of the daylight
we're going on again."

He was asleep in another ten minutes, but Seaforth lay awake shivering
under his clammy blankets most of the night, and rose aching when he
heard his comrade's voice through the patter of the rain in the misty
darkness of the early morning. They made four miles that day, and
floundered waist-deep in water amidst th