he would."

"He promised you? When? When did you see George Taylor?"

She appeared confused. "I--I--Of course I saw him at the house this
noon, when he came to see Father."

"But he could not have promised you then. He had helped me already. Did
you see him before that?"

"Why, how could I? I--"

"Miss Colton, answer me. Was it you that met him at the Ostable station
this morning? Was it?"

She was as red as the reddest of the autumn leaves. She laughed,
confusedly.

"I did meet him there," she confessed. "That queer Mr. Cahoon, the
station agent, told me that Captain Dean had telegraphed him to come.
I knew he would probably be on that train. And Mr. Cahoon told me about
his being interested in stocks and very much troubled. You had told me,
or as much as told me, that you sold the land to get money to help some
one. I put two and two together and I guessed the rest. I met him and
Nellie and we rode to Denboro together in our auto. He promised me that
he would make everything right for you. I am so glad he did!"

I caught my breath with a gasp.

"You did that!" I exclaimed. "You did that, for me!"

"Why not? Surely you had done enough for--us. I could not let you be
'driven from town', you know."

I did not speak. I knew that I must not attempt a reply. I should say
too much. She looked up at me, and then down again at the pine-needles
beneath our feet.

"Father says he intends to do great things for you," she went on. "He
says you are to come with him. He is enthusiastic about it. He believes
you are a great man. No one but a great man, he says, could beat the
Consolidated Pacific gang single-handed. He says you will be the best
investment he ever made."

"I am afraid not," I answered. "Your father made me a generous offer. I
wish I might have been able to accept it, but I could not."

"Oh, but you are going to accept."

"No, I am not."

"He says you are. And he always has his way, you know."

"Not in this case, Miss Colton."

"But _I_ want you to accept. Surely you will do it to oblige me."

"I--I can't."

"What are you going to do; go back to the bank?"

"No, I am going to leave Denboro. I don't know where I shall go. This is
good-by, Miss Colton. It is not likely that we shall meet again."

"But why are you going?"

"I cannot tell you."

She was silent, still looking down at the pine-needles. I could not see
her face. I was silent also. I knew that I ought to go, that I should
not