on that
you've thrown in with me at all, and helped me, and all that. I
appreciate it--but my friendship ain't going to be any help to--"

"Jack Corey, I could shake you! The very idea of you talking that way
makes me wild! I am going. You can't stop me from riding on the train,
can you? And you can't stop me from seeing the chief--"

"I'd look nice, letting your name get mixed up with mine! Sweetheart,
have some sense!" Jack may not have known what name he had twice
called her, but Marion's eyes lighted with blue flames.

"Some things are better than sense--sweetheart," she said, with a shy
boldness that startled her. The last word was spoken into the
snow-matted fur of her muff, but Jack heard it.

"You--oh, God! Marion, do you--care?" He reached out and caught her by
the shoulders. "You mustn't. I'm not fit for a girl like you. Maybe
some day--"

"Some day doesn't mean anything at all. This part of today is what
counts. I'm going with you. I--I feel as if I'd die if I didn't. If
they send you to jail, I'll make them send me too--if I have to rob a
Chinaman!" She laughed confusedly, hiding her face. "It's awful, but I
simply couldn't live without--without--"

"Me? Say, that's the way I've been feeling about you, ever since Lord
knows how long. But I didn't suppose you'd ever--"

"Say, my feet are simply freezing!" Marion interrupted him.
"We'll have to start on. It would be terrible if we missed the train,
Jack."

"You oughtn't to go. Honestly, I mean it. Unless we get married, it
would--"

"Why, of course we'll get married! Have I got to simply propose to
you? We'll have to change at Sacramento anyway--or we can change there
just as well as not--and we'll get married while we're waiting for the
train south. I hope you didn't think for a minute that I'd--"

"It isn't fair to you." Jack moved out from under the sheltering cedar
and led the way up the gully's rim, looking mechanically for an easy
crossing. "I'm a selfish enough brute without letting you--"

Marion plucked at his sleeve and stopped him.

"Jack Corey, you tell me one thing. Don't you--want me to--marry you?
Don't you care--?"

"Listen here, honey, I'll get sore in a minute if you go talking that
way!" He took her in his arms, all snow as she was, and kissed her
with boyish energy. "You know well enough that I'm crazy about you. Of
course I want you! But look at the fix I'm in: with just about a
hundred dollars to my name--"

"I've got m