encil and gazed blankly into space.

Archie had caught one day a glimpse of several of the zodiacal signs
drawn on the margin of a newspaper where the Governor had neglected to
erase them; but he was astounded to find that he was in the company of a
man who took counsel of the stars.

"_Ne sous une mauvaise etoile!_ You catch the sense admirably. Yes, I
was born under an evil star; just that! But if I haven't pondered the
mysteries unprofitably I shall emerge from the shadow in due season.
When you see me scribbling I am calculating the potency of the dark fate
that overhangs me and trying to estimate when if ever the cloud will
pass. Don't trouble your head with those fancies; leave them to me. Hope
is buoyed in me by the fact that never yet have my figures erred. The
night before I picked you up in the road I knew that you were walking
toward me out of nowhere, and I was charged by the planets to befriend
you. So here we are, pilgrims under heavenly protection!"

"I'm sorry; I don't want to leave you; I couldn't make it alone," Archie
answered, awed and meek under these revelations.

"It's very curious, Archie," the Governor resumed, making a little pile
of the scraps to which he had already reduced the sketch; "it's quite
remarkable that the light still hangs in the west for us. Since you
joined me it has been more brilliant. It may be that after all you are
destined to bring me good luck!" He paced the floor for several minutes,
then struck his hands together sharply. "All right!" he exclaimed. "It
has never failed me! The light is mild, feminine, we shall say, gentle,
persuasive, encouraging. It would be fatal to ignore its message."

Archie watched him for some gleam of humor, but the Governor had never
been more serious. His face lighted as he found Archie's eyes fixed upon
him.

"You were thinking just then that I've gone crazy; but I assure you that
I'm perfectly able to give myself all the tests for insanity; I should
recognize the symptoms immediately, from my ability to look into myself
with the detachment of a man who stands at a window and peers into a
lighted room. To return to practical affairs, we shall abandon Collins'
machine and I'll wire him where to pick it up. Then we'll entrain at our
leisure."

"If you don't mind my asking, I'd like to know where we're bound for?"

"New York, my dear boy; but you needn't be alarmed. It will be hot there
and we'll only pause for a day or so. We both need