nted to see you, Drusilla; I gave everything I
had, just to get here before you went----"

"Did you really?" she asked taking him gently by the hand and looking
deep into his eyes, "did you give up your mine--for me?"

"Just to see you," answered Denver, "but after I got here----"

"Oh, I'm so glad!" she sighed, "and you haven't lost your mine. I got to
the Governor first."

"You did?" he cried and then he sat up and the old fire came back into
his eyes. "That's right," he laughed, "you must have beat him to it--I
thought that pardon came quick! This'll cost old Murray a million."

"No, you haven't lost your mine," she went on, smiling curiously. "You
think a lot of it, don't you?"

"Well, I don't know," grumbled Denver, "whether I do or not now. I
believe that mine was a Jonah. I believe I made a mistake and chose the
wrong treasure--I should have taken the gold."

"Oh, Denver!" she beamed, "do you really think so? I've always just
hated that mine. I've always had the feeling that you thought more of it
than you did of me--or anybody."

"Well, I did," confessed Denver, "it seemed to kind of draw me--to make
me forget everything else. And Drusilla, I'm sorry I didn't come
down--that night when you went away."

"It was the mine," she frowned, "I believe it was accursed. It always
came between us. But you must sell it now, and not work for a while--I
want you to entertain me."

"I'll do it!" exclaimed Denver, "I'll sell out for what I can get and
then we can be together. How did you get along on your trip?"

"Oh, fine!" she burst out radiantly, "Oh, I had such _luck_. I was
only the understudy, and doing minor parts, when the soprano was taken
ill in the second act and I went in and scored a triumph. It was 'Love
Tales of Hoffmann' and when I sang the 'Barcarolle' they recalled me
seven times! That is they recalled us both--it's sung as a duet, you
know."

"Um," nodded Denver and listened in glum silence as she related the
details of her premier. "And how about those tenors?" he asked at last,
"did any of 'em steal my kiss?"

"No--or that is--well, we won't talk about that now. But of course I
have to act my parts."

"Oh, sure, sure!" he answered rebelliously and a triumphant twinkle came
into her eyes.

"Do you still believe in the prophecy?" she asked, "and in all that
Mother Trigedgo told you? Because if you do, I've got some news--you
won't die until you're past eighty."

"I won't?" challenged Den