demand, and just now there isn't any. We're half through with the
desiccatory, but as it seems the Government will not make us roads, the
California people with their cheap transport will beat us easily. I've
got thirty men chopping out a new trail one could haul a loaded wagon
on, and don't quite know how to pay them. We've raised a piece of the
cannery, but for want of dollars don't go on, and, to put it straight,
unless that railroad comes in, Somasco will be busted when the loans
come due."

"Well," said Forel, "I've some news for you. One of my clients who
seems to think a good deal of the future of Somasco offers dollars
enough to help you considerably--in fact, half as much again as you
were asking for lately."

Alton's face brightened, and then grew clouded again. "The other folks
have security, and as I don't know that we have anything we could offer
this one, I'm not sure it would be square," he said.

"The dollars," said Forel, "are now in my hands, and I fancy that if
you will go through the books with me tomorrow we can find something
that would figure as security. In fact, the lender left me a tolerably
wide discretion and would almost as soon I sank the dollars to take a
share of the profits as put them out on loan."

Alton appeared astonished. "Considering our present credit, that is
somewhat curious."

"There it is, anyway," said Forel, smiling. "There are, it seems,
still people who believe in Somasco and you, but we'll see what we can
fix up to-morrow."

Alton stood up and straightened himself to his full height, while his
voice trembled a little as he said, "Then I think whoever it is is
going to save us yet."

Forel made no answer, but he fancied that his client would have been
contented had she seen how Alton seemed to shake off the grim
hopelessness that had been too apparent through all his resolution.

It was with a lighter heart that Alton went away, and having little
leisure or inclination for company, he did not go back to his friend's
house until the evening of Mrs. Forel's return. The sun had dipped
behind the pines when he reached it, and Forel and his wife sat with
Alice Deringham upon the verandah, for which the girl was grateful,
because the presence of others rendered their conventional greetings
easier, and she at once shrank from and desired an interview with Alton
alone. By and by it, however, happened that Forel, who may have
received a warning from his wife,