n the crossed sabres
shielding the gilded "7" on the front of the lieutenant's scouting hat,
then settled upon the face of the girl. With one hand pressed against
the grass he pushed himself slowly up until he sat fronting them, his
teeth clinched tight, his gray eyes gleaming feverishly in their sunken
sockets.

"I'll be damned if you will!" he said, hoarsely. "She 's my girl now."

CHAPTER V

A NEW PROPOSITION

To one in the least inclined toward fastidiousness, the Miners' Home at
Glencaid would scarcely appeal as a desirable place for long-continued
residence. But such a one would have had small choice in the matter,
as it chanced to be the only hotel there. The Miners' Home was
unquestionably unique as regards architectural details, having been
constructed by sections, in accordance with the rapid development of
the camp, and enjoyed the further distinction--there being only two
others equally stylish in town--of being built of sawn plank, although,
greatly to the regret of its unfortunate occupants, lack of seasoning
had resulted in wide cracks in both walls and stairway. These were
numerous, and occasionally proved perilous pitfalls to unwary
travellers through the ill-lighted hall, while strict privacy within
the chambers was long ago a mere reminiscence. However, these
deficiencies were to be discovered only after entering. Without, the
Miners' Home put up a good front,--which along the border is considered
the chief matter of importance,--and was in reality the most
pretentious structure gracing the single cluttered street of Glencaid.
Indeed, it was pointed at with much civic pride by those citizens never
compelled to exist within its yawning walls, and, with its ornament of
a wide commodious porch, appeared even palatial in comparison with the
log stable upon its left flank, or the dingy tent whose worm-eaten
canvas flapped dejectedly upon the right. Directly across the street,
its front a perfect blaze of glass, stood invitingly the Occidental
saloon; but the Widow Guffy, who operated the Miners' Home with a
strong hand, possessed an antipathy to strong liquor, which
successfully kept all suspicion of intoxicating drink absent from those
sacredly guarded precincts, except as her transient guests imported it
internally, in the latter case she naturally remained quiescent, unless
the offender became unduly boisterous. On such rare occasions Mrs.
Guffy had always proved equal to the emergen