or the missing man, Henry Redmond? Instead of throwing himself
earnestly and actively into the quest he was frittering away his time,
following the will-o'-the-wisp of a fancy, and going daft over a mere
slip of a girl who moved serenely apart from his world of thought and
being. He called himself a fool and chided himself over and over
again. But for all that, he was unable to tear her out of his heart
and mind. She seemed to belong to him, and to no one else.

"I believe that my experiences in France have affected my brain," he
muttered, as he at length rose to his feet. "I am sure I was not like
this before the war. But here I am now dazzled and mystified by a fair
face, a pair of sparkling eyes, and the charm of a name. This will
never do. I must shake off this fascination, or I shall be good for
nothing."

He walked rapidly down the hill, and then along a trail that wound
through a thicket of small fir trees. This brought him in a few
minutes to one of the streets leading straight to the river. He walked
slower now, much interested in the quaint log houses, with here and
there a miner's or a prospector's tent. Presently he saw before him a
large building, with galvanized roof and sides. People were entering
the place, and drawing nearer, the sound of music fell upon his ears.
A band was playing, he could easily tell, and it was dancing music at
that.

Reaching the building, Reynolds paused and listened. The music was
good, the best he had heard in a long time. Through an open door he
could see men playing billiards and pool. It was a lively and an
attractive scene, which caused him to enter and stand for a while near
the door watching the games. No one paid any attention to him, and
from what he observed there were others like himself, strangers, who
found the time hanging heavily on their hands, and had dropped into the
place for the sake of companionship. There were several large tables,
and these were all occupied by eager players. Nearby was a bar, where
drinks of various kinds were being served. The room was brilliantly
lighted by electricity, and the whole atmosphere of the place was most
congenial.

At one end of the billiard room were two doors, and here a number of
people were standing watching the dancing that was going on in the main
part of the building. Reynolds presently joined them, and he was
greatly surprised at the size of the room, and the number of people
upon the floor.