, but short as it was the
pause had been very significant, for it seemed that whatever the elders
of the community might decide, the two women, whose influence was
supreme at Silverdale, had given the impostor absolution.

The girl could not analyze her feelings, but through them all a vague
relief was uppermost, for whatever he had been it was evident the man
had done one wrong only, and daringly, and that was a good deal easier
to forgive than several incidents in Courthorne's past would have been.
Then she was conscious that Miss Barrington's eyes were upon her.

"Aunt," she said, with a little tremor in her voice, "It is almost
bewildering. Still, one seemed to feel that what that man has done
could never have been the work of Lance Courthorne."

Miss Barrington made no answer, but her face was very grave, and just
then those nearest it drew back a little from the door. A trooper
stood outside it, his carbine glinting in the light, and another was
silhouetted against the sky, sitting motionless in his saddle further
back on the prairie.

"The police are still here," said somebody. One by one they passed out
under the trooper's gaze, but there was the usual delay in harnessing
and saddling, and the first vehicle had scarcely rolled away, when
again the beat of hoofs and thin jingle of steel came portentously out
of the silence. Maud Barrington shivered a little as she heard it.

In the meanwhile, the few who remained had seated themselves about
Colonel Barrington. When there was quietness again, he glanced at
Winston, who still sat at the foot of the table.

"Have you anything more to tell us?" he asked. "These gentlemen are
here to advise me if necessary."

"Yes," said Winston quietly. "I shall probably leave Silverdale before
morning, and have now to hand you a statement of my agreement with
Courthorne and the result of my farming here, drawn up by a Winnipeg
accountant. Here is also a document in which I have taken the liberty
of making you and Dane my assigns. You will, as authorized by it, pay
to Courthorne the sum due to him, and with your consent, which you have
power to withhold, I purpose taking one thousand dollars only of the
balance that remains to me. I have it here now, and in the meanwhile
surrender it to you. Of the rest, you will make whatever use that
appears desirable for the general benefit of Silverdale. Courthorne
has absolutely no claim upon it."

He laid a wallet on the ta