vage in him she had no fear. She had the means to deal
with that always to her hand. But influenced by drink it was a different
matter. That was his condition now. It was a condition to disturb any
young, lonely woman.

She knew she had a difficult part to play. But her mind was made up. She
would play it so long as it would serve. After that----

She shook her head.

"No," she said coldly, without looking up. "Guess he didn't know his
dollars were going to Fort Duggan. If he had, maybe it would have been
different. He doesn't figger to pay big money to the folks he--owns. I'm
just a free trader to him. He doesn't even know my name. Maybe he hates
free traders. But he's ready to pay if the pelts are fine quality. He
didn't worry a thing."

The man's amiability beamed.

"You're a smart kid," he said, with his bold eyes on the pretty figure
which the girl's mannish buckskin had no power to conceal.

Again she shook her head.

"The North teaches a mighty tough lesson. If you don't learn it good
you're beat right away." Keeko suddenly looked up, and her eyes were
gazing directly into the man's. "I've learned a heap. I'm not yearning
to learn more. Still--Say, there's times I feel I'd like to get back to
the sheltered days when the school-ma'm sat around over a girl till she
hated herself. If I'm smart I'm no smarter than I need to be."

"No."

Nicol's eyes were almost devouring as Keeko turned back to the stove.

"We've all got to be smart if we're going to lay hold of the things held
out to us," he said. He laughed cynically. "That's how I always figger.
Guess I haven't a notion to miss a thing now. The days of foolishness
are over."

Keeko was well enough aware of the thoughts which lay at the back of her
own words. Now she strove to penetrate his.

"Yes," she said with a quiet confidence which she by no means felt.

Ease, confidence could never be hers in this man's presence, for all she
had been brought up to look on him as a step-father. The thoughts of the
weeks lying ahead were in her mind. They were always there now. Time.
She was playing for time. So she adopted the tone and attitude best
suited to help her.

After a moment's silence the man suddenly flung out his hands. It was a
movement expressive of his volcanic temper. That which had for its
inspiration cynical disregard for anything and everything which
interfered with the fulfilment of his own selfish desire.

"Hell!" he cried. "What's the