ove off to the settlement. He did not come back until next morning,
but his plans were made and he only waited a telegram from Kerr. Three
or four days later the telegram arrived.

"All fixed," it ran. "Pass for transport mailed. Come along soon as
possible."

CHAPTER XIX

SADIE SEES A WAY

Soon after Festing started for British Columbia Sadie drove over to
the farm; because she had heard about the fight in the poolroom and
suspected why he had gone. At first she found it difficult to break down
Helen's reserve, but the latter could not resist her frank sympathy, and
softening by degrees, allowed herself to be led into confidential talk.
Sadie waited until she thought she understood the matter, and then
remarked:

"So you stuck to your promise that you'd help me with Bob, although you
saw what it would cost? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you hated us."

"It wasn't altogether the promise," Helen replied. "We were both highly
strung, and I thought Stephen hard and prejudiced; it seemed ridiculous
that he should care what the loafers said. But I don't hate you. The
fault was really mine, and I want a friend."

"Well," said Sadie, "I feel I've got to help put this trouble right, if
I can." She paused and asked with some hesitation: "Will Steve be away
long?"

"I don't know," Helen answered dejectedly. "He hinted that he might not
come until spring; I think he means to stop until he has earned enough
to make him independent. That's partly my fault--I said something rash.
If I hadn't had more money than him, it wouldn't have happened."

Sadie smiled. "My having more money won't make trouble between me and
Bob; he doesn't mind how much I've got. But I suppose you want Steve
back?"

"Of course! It's all I want, but the matter is not as simple as it
looks. I don't think he will come back as long as he's poor, and if he
does, he won't use my capital, and things will be as before. If he earns
some money, I should feel hurt because he was obstinate and wouldn't let
me help. That's why I don't know what to do. I wish I'd never had the
money!"

Sadie thought Helen had some ground she had not mentioned yet for her
distress. Moreover, it looked as if she still felt she had a grievance
against Festing, and their clashing ideas about the money did not
altogether account for this.

"I guess you're keeping something back."

Helen's reserve had broken down. She was half ashamed because she had
lost it, but she felt