off against the New Yorker, using him as a lay
figure in her despicable game, bestowing endearments to anger
Gretzinger and arouse his jealousy.

"I came to tell you a big storm is brewing," he said quickly. "You and
Imogene must plan to stay in Kennard for some time. If a heavy fall of
snow occurs, the mesa will be closed for ten days or two weeks with
the temperature very low."

"Then I'll pack my things in my suit-case so that I can remain that
long," Ruth exclaimed. "I'll stay with Mabel Seybolt. Imogene's uncle
sent up his car this morning, but I didn't imagine there was any
really bad storm coming and sent it back. I doubt if the snow amounts
to much, anyway. The weather's too warm." Nevertheless, she began to
fill a suit-case.

"I'll tell Imogene also," Lee said.

Ruth's eyes turned toward Gretzinger with an inquiring look.

"There won't be room for three of us, will there?"

"No," he answered.

Her regard still continued directed at him.

"I'm sure there won't be," she said, with conviction. "It probably
won't storm before to-morrow, in any case. I'll tell Mr. McDonnell in
the morning and he can send up his big car for her."

"Or you can take her to town yourself," Gretzinger added in an
indifferent tone.

"I can't spare the time," Lee said.

"But dearie, I'll be done packing in two minutes, while it will take
Imogene half an hour," Ruth replied. "She's too slow to wait for. And
she has one of her eternal headaches, too."

Ruth was hurriedly removing articles from her trunk to the suit-case.

"Listen, please," Lee said, addressing her. "If Imo remains she may
become snowbound, and if snowbound, freeze. I can't go, I can't
possibly go. With this storm coming, I must stay at camp. As things
are, a blizzard may put me out of business."

Ruth straightened up to confront him.

"You mean the work would stop, that you couldn't finish it on time?"

"That's just what I mean."

"Why?" Gretzinger spoke. "You have ten days left."

"Yes, and what are ten days with two feet of snow on the ground and
the mercury forty below zero?" Bryant retorted.

Gretzinger stood up, glanced at his watch, and buttoned his overcoat.
He then bent down and set to work buckling the straps of the suit-case
Ruth had closed.

"You do seem to get into every possible kind of trouble, Lee," the
girl said.

"Perhaps I do. But the point now is about Imogene. Will you take her
with you, or not?"

"Mr. McDonnell can send for