g very despondent,
indeed, when the canvas on which our eyes were fixed suddenly shook and
the calm figure of a woman stepped out before us, clad in the simplest
garb, but showing in every line of face and form a character of mingled
kindness and shrewdness. She was evidently on the lookout for the
doctor, for she made a sign as she saw him and returned instantly into
the tent.

"Mr. Fairbrother has just fallen asleep," he explained. "It isn't
discipline and I shall have to apologize to Miss Serra, but if you will
promise not to speak nor make the least disturbance I will let you take
the one peep you prefer to supper."

"I promise," said I.

Leading the way to the opening, he whispered a word to the nurse, then
motioned me to look in. The sight was a simple one, but to me very
impressive. The owner of palaces, a man to whom millions were as
thousands to such poor devils as myself, lay on an improvised bed of
evergreens, wrapped in a horse blanket and with nothing better than
another of these rolled up under his head. At his side sat his nurse
on what looked like the uneven stump of a tree. Close to her hand was
a tolerably flat stone, on which I saw arranged a number of bottles and
such other comforts as were absolutely necessary to a proper care of the
sufferer.

That was all. In these few words I have told the whole story. To be
sure, this simple tent, perched seven thousand feet and more above
sea-level, had one advantage which even his great house in New York
could not offer This was the out look. Lying as he did facing the
valley, he had only to open his eyes to catch a full view of the
panorama of sky and mountain stretched out before him. It was glorious;
whether seen at morning, noon or night, glorious. But I doubt if he
would not gladly have exchanged it for a sight of his home walls.

As I started to go, a stir took place in the blanket wrapped about his
chin, and I caught a glimpse of the iron-gray head and hollow cheeks of
the great financier. He was a very sick man. Even I could see that. Had
I obtained the permission I sought and been allowed to ask him one of
the many questions burning on my tongue, I should have received only
delirium for reply. There was no reaching that clouded intelligence now,
and I felt grateful to the doctor for convincing me of it.

I told him so and thanked him quite warmly when we were well away from
the tent, and his answer was almost kindly, though he made no effort to