ased his own suspicion.

"I take your advice about my campaign," he said.

"So do I take yours about the play."

"But you fight every step of the way."

"That's the way the Irish show they're grateful," she laughed. But in
her heart she was glad that at last her work began to interest him as
much as his interested her. Of course this particular problem in the
play was his own problem, so his interest was easily aroused. She saw
how it rested him to forget entirely about his own work and take up this
other man's difficulties.

As the hot weather came upon them they debated the wisdom of moving out
of town. Bob's season was running very late, holding on from week to
week, so long as the audiences held. Trent was rushed to death. They met
only for brief visits at odd hours. Even week-ends were occupied; he
caught up with his correspondence on that holiday.

"You look very pale these last few days, Barbara. Do go off to your
bungalow, or to mine."

"Will you come, too?"

"Whenever I can. You see how my time is eaten up. But you could motor
out at night, and spend your days out in the open. Don't think of me,
you go--and be comfortable."

"Do I get on your nerves?"

He hesitated a moment.

"I wonder sometimes what my nerves would have done without you. You are
the only tonic they have."

"Thanks. I'll stay until my season closes, then we can decide."

He breathed a sigh which she flattered herself was relief. Two weeks
later the theatre closed. The days were hot and dry. Bob was tired, and
determined not to be worried about Trent, who was working to the limit
of his endurance. When he came into her room the Sunday morning after
her closing, she was shocked by him.

"Well, Saint Francis, you look as if you had fasted forty days and forty
nights."

"I feel it--I'm all in."

"I am going to leave you to-morrow."

"What?"

"I hate to think of you dying alone--better come along."

"Where?"

"I don't know. I'd like to go to some perfectly new place."

"So would I. Is there such a thing?"

"I'd like to rough it. Camp, skies for roof, all that kind of
differentness."

"Where could we go?"

"I knew some people who went to Estes Park and loved it. How about
that?"

"Actual tents? You don't seem to suggest that sort of thing."

"Log cabin, cook in the open, all day in the saddle. Come on, let's go!"

"I'm nearly through with all I can do now. How long will it take you to
get ready?"

"Me? Oh, a da