t him again.

"Duane?"

"What?"

"This is a fool of a book. Do you want to read it?"

"No, thanks."

"Over my shoulder, I mean?"

He got up, seated himself on the arm of her chair, and looked at the
printed page over her shoulder.

For a full minute neither moved; then she turned her head, very slowly,
and, looking into his eyes, she rested her lips on his.

"My darling," she said; "my darling."

Which is one of the countless variations of the malady which makes the
world spin round in one continual and perpetual fit.

CHAPTER XXII

CLOUDY MOUNTAIN

Five days running, Geraldine, Duane, and old Miller watched for the big
gray boar among the rocky oak ridges under Cloudy Mountain; and though
once they saw his huge tracks, they did not see him.

Every night, on their return, Scott jeered them and taunted them until a
personal encounter with Duane was absolutely necessary, and they always
adjourned to the snowy field of honour to wipe off the score and each
other's faces with the unblemished snow.

Rosalie and a Chow-dog arrived by the middle of the week; Delancy toward
the end of it, unencumbered. Duane made a mental note of his own
assininity, and let it go at that. He was as glad to see Rosalie as
anybody, and just as glad to see Delancy, but he'd have preferred to
enjoy the pleasures separately, though it really didn't matter, after
all.

"Sooner or later," he admitted to himself, "that Delancy man is going to
marry her; and it seems to me she's entitled to another chance in the
world. Even our earthly courts are lenient toward first offenders. As
for the ethics--puzzle it out, you!" He made a gesture including the
world in general, lighted a cigarette, and went out to the gun-room to
join Geraldine.

"Rosalie and Delancy want to go shooting with us," he explained with a
shrug.

"Oh, Duane!--and our solitary and very heavenly trips alone together!"

"I know it. I have just telephoned Miller to get Kemp from Westgate for
them. Is that all right?"

"Yes"--she hesitated--"I think so."

"Let Kemp guide them," he insisted. "They'll never hold out as far as
Cloudy Mountain. All they want is to shoot a boar, no matter how big it
is. Miller says the boar are feeding again near the Green Pass. It's
easy enough to send them there."

"Do you think that is perfectly hospitable? Rosalie and Delancy may find
it rather stupid going off alone together with only Kemp to amuse them.
I am fond of him,