lace I make,--and then--"

"Lass, I can't take these. I have no knowledge of their worth--or--"
He knew he was saying what was not true, for he knew well the value of
what she laid so trustingly in his palm, and his hand quivered under
the shining jewels. He cleared his throat and began again. "I say, I
can't take jewels so valuable over the trail and run the risk of
losing them. Never! Put them by as before."

"But how can I ask of you the things I wish? I have no money to return
for them, and none for all you have done for my mother and me. Please,
Sir Kildene, take of this, then, only enough to buy for our need. It
is little to take. Do not be hard with me." She pleaded sweetly,
placing one hand under his great one, and the other over the jewels,
holding them pressed to his palm. "Will you go away and leave my heart
heavy?"

"Look here, now--" Again he cleared his throat. "You put them by until
I come back, and then--"

But she would not, and tying them in her handkerchief, she thrust them
in the pocket of his flannel shirt.

"There! It is not safe in such a place. Be sure you take care, Sir
Kildene. I have many thoughts in my mind. It is not all the money of
these you will need now, and of the rest I may take my mother to a
large city, where are people who understand the fine lace. There I may
sell enough to keep us well. But of money will I need first a little
to get us there. It is well for me, you take these--see? Is not?"

"No, it is not well." He spoke gruffly in his effort to overcome his
emotion. "Where under heaven can I sell these?"

"You go not to the great city?" she asked sadly. "How must we then so
long intrude us upon you! It is very sad." She clasped her hands and
looked in his eyes, her own brimming with tears; then he turned away.
Tears in a woman's eyes! He could not stand it.

"See here. I'll tell you what I'll do. If that railroad is through
anywhere--so--so--I can reach San Francisco--" He thought he knew that
to be an impossibility, and that she would be satisfied. "I say--if
it's where I can reach San Francisco, I'll see what can be done." He
cleared his throat a great many times, and stood awkwardly, hardly
daring to move with the precious jewels in his pocket. "See here.
They'll joggle out of here. Can't you--"

She turned on him radiantly. "You may have my bag of leather. In that
will they be safe."

She removed the string from her neck and by it pulled the small
embossed case