ng for what she believes is right.
Something in her was strong enough to take her from you, your love, and
the safety you stand for in her life. She has gone back to--what has
stood for hell in her past. Do you, can you, understand her,
Treadwell?"

"No!"

"Then, keep away until God, as she knows God, has had His way with her.
Stand off and watch. Be ready, but let her fight her fight and come to
you, if that is the end--with clean soul!"

And now Lans Treadwell was weeping as only men and children can weep
when they are defeated by a stronger will they cannot understand, and
cannot resist.

The great logs crackled and the wind roared in the chimney. Above, the
shambling steps of Martin Morley sounded as he made his preparations
for bed. Suddenly Sandy started up and listened.

"There's a call of distress from The Way," he said, getting upon his
feet. Then he stood waiting for the next sound. Treadwell pulled
himself together and listened also.

No call came, but presently steps were heard outside--a tap on the door
of the room which led directly to the open.

"Come!" said Sandy, and in walked Marcia Lowe and Cynthia Walden. They
were rain-soaked and wind-blown. Their faces shone and their eyes
danced.

"This is the end of our holiday," Marcia said with a laugh. Neither
she nor Cynthia paid attention to the man in the chair; he was hardly
visible behind the high back. "Tod Greeley's shaft broke just as we
were coming into The Way from the cross cut. We called and called, but
finally we decided to find where we were--it is as black as a pocket
out of doors--we were all completely lost. Cynthia and I felt our way
along, while Greeley stayed with the horse--the beast acted like a
fiend--and then we saw a light: your light! No other man in The Hollow
wastes oil like you--and here we are!"

At this Treadwell made himself evident. Turning sharply, he met the
big, lovely eyes of the girl beside the talkative little woman. The
fair, damp face was inframed by tendrils of light hair under a hood of
dullish red; the long, coarse, brown coat clung to the slim figure, and
the mouth of the girl was smiling. Treadwell had never seen a mouth
smile so before.

Sandy introduced his friend and then said: "Lans, make the ladies
comfortable; I'll lend Greeley a hand."

CHAPTER XXI

Lance Treadwell did not leave the mountains the next day. The storm
poured, and Sandy's words sunk deep in his light min