retorted Eileen.

"Almost thou persuadest me to be a real estate agent," he bantered.

"Well,--one thing I do know; no man ever got very far ahead working
for the other fellow. If a man isn't worth more to himself than he is
to someone else, you can bet that someone else is not going to employ
him."

"You talk as if you had worked it all out, Miss Pederstone."

"I have, too!" she went on. "If you are holding down a job at a fair
price, it ought to be a sufficient indication to you that you should
be at it on your own account."

Eileen's ardour set a spark aglow in Phil, but, manlike, he was prone
to ignore it and even to argue against her conclusions.

"You must pardon me if I have said too much," apologised Eileen at
last, "only, only I have tried to speak for your own good, and Jim's,
for there is so much good in Jim that just wants elbow room;--and
besides, knowing what I know, I should like so much to see _you_ make
good."

"I haven't any fear at all of the ultimate 'making good,'" replied
Phil. "I have always known that it would come sooner or later. It has
never been merely a hope with me, it has been an inward knowledge
since I was quite a little chap."

"Why then, that knowledge, backed by your every endeavour, cannot fail
to realise great success for you. It is fear of failure that kills so
many successful ventures before their birth. Without fear--which is at
best a cowardly bugaboo, the world would be heaven."

"Well,--heaven is where the devil isn't," said Phil, "so fear must be
the very devil himself."

"Fear is the only devil I know," asserted Eileen.

"I am afraid I have the misfortune to be acquainted with quite a lot
of other little devils," he laughed.

They crossed the road together, along the west-end of Mayor
Brenchfield's local ranch and town house, which was divided from the
new Royce Pederstone property by the big house and grounds which that
eccentric Englishman, Percival DeRue Hannington, had bought for
himself and now occupied in lordly bachelordom.

Several of Brenchfield's stables and out-houses were situated quite
close to the roadway.

In passing, Phil observed a faint light in one of these, which swung
as if in the hands of someone moving about.

As they continued along, he fancied he heard the sound of voices, one
of which rose and fell as if in anger.

His momentary curiosity caused him to stop conversing and to listen
more intently.

One of the voices rose again;