acedly,
but Betty's eyes shone defiance and her head kept up, and the two
lovers walked on to the highway and along in the direction of their
own home.

"Well I'll be darned!" exclaimed Pederstone. "It takes a woman every
time to know how to handle a man."

Brenchfield scoffingly curled his lip.

"Coming my way, Graham?"

"Not yet awhile," said the Mayor; "I want to see Ralston here about a
little matter that's been on my mind for a while."

Phil was already back working on the furnace bellows and stirring his
irons in the red-hot coals.

Mayor Brenchfield came over to him, his fat but handsome face leering
a little under his bushy eyebrows.

"So, Philly,--you're still earning your daily bread by the sweat of
your blooming brow!"

The young man looked his tormentor over contemptuously, and continued
his work without comment.

"Gee, but some men are damned fools though!" continued the other.

"And some are damned curs," answered Phil.

Brenchfield bit his lip, then grinned.

"Say, Phil!--I'm sorry for all I did. Honest, I am. I want you to
forget the past and forgive me. I treated you, as you say, like a cur.
I'm willing to make amends and do the right thing by you as far as
that is humanly possible. You and I were brought up together, Phil.
That should count some."

"It should," agreed Phil, in a non-committal way, wondering what was
behind this change of front on the part of Brenchfield.

"I am willing to have my holdings appraised and to make you a present
of one half."

"You mean you are willing to let me have the half that belongs to
me?"

"If you care to put it that way,--yes!"

"Half of the proceeds of your theft?"

"Oh, forget that! Can't you have a little sense, if only in your own
interests?"

Phil smiled.

"I was always a bit of a fool, Brenchfield, where my own interests
were concerned. But I am gaining wisdom as I go along."

"Then, in heaven's name, take this chance when it is offered you. No
man can do more than I am willing to do now. You won't have to work
another stroke in your life."

Phil's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Gee,--but that _would_ be a pleasant prospect,--I don't think!"

Brenchfield held out his hand. "Is it a go?"

Phil was almost convinced by the sincere ring in Brenchfield's voice.
He glanced into the latter's face, but the Mayor's eyes failed to play
up to the sound he had put into his voice.

"Do you honestly mean all you say?" asked Phil.

"Ev