nd the painted woman at his side. And
when he returned, after ignoring her letters and allowing his mining
claim to lapse, and resumed his fault-finding complaints she had put
him back in his place.

But that was just it, the outburst had relieved her; she had lost her
cherished hate. In the quiet of her room she remembered how he looked,
so beaten and yet so bold. She remembered the blow that her words had
given him when he had learned that his stock was doomed; and that
greater blow when he saw even his equity placed in jeopardy by the
jumping of the Old Juan. Had it not been a little cruel, to fly at
him, after that? He was wrong, of course, but the occasion was great
and his mind was on other things. Yet he had told her, and repeated
it, that she had sold him out--and that she could never endure.

She remained resolutely away until late in the afternoon and then she
returned to the office. It was her office, anyway, as much as his; and
besides, she had left her ear-'phone. Not that she needed it, of
course, but she must keep up appearances, although it seemed impossible
to persuade people that she was no longer deaf. Even Rimrock had
shouted in that old, maddening way the instant she did not reply. It
was natural, of course, but with him at least she would like it the
other way. She would like him to speak as he had spoken at first when
he had come to her office alone. But those days were gone, along with
eaves-dropping Andrew McBain, their first happiness and the golden
dreams. All was gone--all but the accursed gold.

She found Rimrock alone in the silent office, running through filing
cases in blundering haste.

"What are you looking for?" she asked demurely and as he noticed her
amusement he smiled.

"Examining the books," he answered grimly. "Say, how much money have
we got?"

"Oh, don't look there!" she said, pushing the filing drawer back into
its case. "Here, I'll give you our last monthly statement, brought
down to January first."

She ran through the files and with a practised hand drew out the paper
he wanted.

"Much obliged," he mumbled and as he glanced at the total he blinked
and his eyes opened up. "All right!" he said, "that will last me a
while. I might as well spend it, don't you think? I'm General
Manager, as long as I last, and it will take money to beat this man
Bray."

"What, have you taken charge of the legal part of it? I thought that
was left to McVicker and O