a few inches high and the wide
plain rolled back in the strong light, shining pale-yellow and gray. It
was only when the shadows passed that one could see streaks and patches
of faded green. In the distance a cluster of roofs broke the bare
expanse, and Helen knew they marked the Wilkinson ranch. A horse and
buggy approached it, looking very small, and she glanced at Sadie, who
said nothing, although her face was stern. By and by the latter stopped
her team in front of the homestead and fastened the reins to a post.

"Now," she said, "you sit on the veranda and wait for me. It was
Wilkinson's rig we saw, and I'll find him in."

Wilkinson looked up from the table at which he was writing when Sadie
entered the room. He was, on the whole, a handsome man, but was rather
fat, and his black eyes were unusually close together. This perhaps
accounted for the obliquity of his glance, which, some believed,
conveyed a useful hint about his character. He was neatly dressed
in light, summer clothes, although the farmers generally wore brown
overalls. As he got up his look indicated that he was trying to hide his
annoyance.

"This is something of a surprise, Mrs. Charnock," he said politely.
"However, if there's anything I can do--"

"You can sit down again in the meantime," Sadie replied, and occupied
a chair opposite, with the quirt on her knee. "To begin with, if you're
writing to your Winnipeg friend, you had better wait a bit."

"I'm not writing to Winnipeg; but don't see what this has to do with
your visit."

"Then you haven't sent off Bob's cheque yet! I mean to get it back."

Wilkinson saw that he had made a rash admission. Mrs. Charnock was
cleverer than he thought.

"If Bob wants it back, why didn't he come himself?"

"He doesn't know I have come," Sadie answered calmly.

Wilkinson studied her and did not like her look. Her face was hard, her
color higher than usual, and her eyes sparkled ominously.

"Well," he said, "you told me you would pay no more of your husband's
debts, but this is not a debt. Besides, the money must be Bob's, since
he gave me the cheque."

"Why did he give it you?"

The question was awkward, because Wilkinson did not want to state that
he had persuaded Bob to join him in a speculation. This was the best
construction that could be put upon the matter, and he did not think it
would satisfy Mrs. Charnock.

"Why does a man give another a cheque?" he rejoined, with a look of
good-humor t