ss of the past, and all the loneliness of the future! I am
poor now; in that fact lies what hope I have."

A gentle inclination of her head answered him.

"I am happy to-night, anyway," said she.

"The only thing for me to do is to remain away from you," he answered.
"Heaven knows I shall be miserable enough then, but I should grow
desperate if I were near."

"I know. We mustn't see each other, Lee dear."

He walked to where his storm coat and cap lay on a chair by the door.
In silence he drew on and buttoned the former. She had accompanied
him to the spot and watched with moisture on her lashes his
preparation for departure. His eyes were lowered while his fingers
were engaged with the buttons.

"You should understand about this," he said, grimly. "That man
Gretzinger is after her. She has no money, no training to earn money,
is crazy for pleasure and attention and clothes. I ought in all
decency to break our engagement. She has given me grounds enough. But
it's keeping her straight. If I broke it"--his hand dropped to his
side and he stood for a moment quite still--"he drags her under." His
gaze rose to hers.

"I guessed it long ago," she said, in a choked voice. "And loved you
for it." Next instant she leaned forward, took his temples between her
hands, and lightly touched his brow with her lips. "Go, go!" she
exclaimed, with an accent of despair.

She herself turned and went quickly out of the room.

CHAPTER XXV

Bryant had asked Carrigan to come to the office at two o'clock,
stating that the company was insolvent and but enough money remained
to square accounts with the contractor. Pat had cast a shrewd glance
at Lee and nodded. This was during the morning. Afterward the engineer
had gone for a visit to the dam, the drops, and the canal line, a last
view of the project as a whole; and the ride was pursued in that
peculiar melancholy of spirit which appertains to mortuary events. To
him, indeed, the ride marked a burial, a burial of high hopes and
ambition, and of his youth, with the partially excavated canal
providing their pit and the concrete work standing as a headstone.

He came back to camp somewhat late for his appointment and found Pat
waiting in the office, but not alone. Gretzinger stood, back to the
stove, smoking a Turkish cigarette.

"Well, Bryant, I've returned to discuss our little business
transaction," he greeted. "Judged this to be about the right time.
How's the exchequer?"