oked out eagerly for the
first range of the snow-clad Rockies.

The trip had taken the best part of three days, and it was early morning
when I arrived in busy Denver, where the dry cold wind and the whirring
shrieks of electric trams made me feel that I had left the place but
yesterday. Much was changed, and many more tall, handsome blocks of pink
stone had been erected during my four years' absence; still I easily
found my way to the building where Harvey Farnham had offices.

It was just past breakfast time, but the business world of Denver,
Colorado, and the "great West" is astir at an hour which would appear
unusual in England. I asked for Mr. Farnham, and was told by a young
clerk that he had returned to Denver three or four days previously. He
had not been at the offices, as he was somewhat unwell as yet, but if I
chose I could see Mr. Bennett, who would tell me when he might be
expected.

I remembered Bennett, now that I was reminded of his existence, as an
energetic young fellow high in Farnham's confidence, who probably knew
as much about the mining and other financial interests as did his
employer. I said therefore that I would see Mr. Bennett by all means.

He came in to me briskly in a few moments, surprised, and, he said,
delighted to meet me again. Yes, it was quite true that Mr. Farnham had
returned, but was as yet unable to be troubled by business affairs.

This settled the matter, then, I assured myself. There was nothing left
for me to do but rejoice in Farnham's safety, curse my own idiocy for
harbouring fantastic suspicions, despite all evidence which should long
ago have overthrown them, and proceed to retrace my six thousand mile
journey across the continent and the Atlantic.

I should at all events have the satisfaction, I bitterly reflected, that
I had done my best to serve Karine's interests and my own, and I should
arrive in England in plenty of time to see her married to the man I had
vainly attempted to prove a murderer.

I became for the first moment conscious that I was desperately weary,
that I had eaten little during the past few days, and slept less. I had
not troubled myself to breakfast that morning--devouring food had seemed
so utterly irrelevant--and now for an instant, as Mr. Bennett's words
rang in my ears, a curious sudden dizziness overpowered me. I felt sick
and faint, and realised that life was a failure, with nothing worth
living for in future, since Karine Cunningham