an get some of his money back, why can't I? I've wasted yours
long enough, and now, if I can't bring him home, I'll stop with him
until we both make good."

"You mean that, Bob?"

"I do. Give me a chance to prove it."

Sadie got up, and putting her hands on his shoulders, kissed him. "Very
well. You shall have all the money you want."

Then she went back to her chair and turned her head. She had borne with
her husband's follies and fought hard for him, sometimes with hope and
sometimes in desperation, but always with unflinching courage. Now it
looked as if she had won. Victory was insecure yet, and there was a
risk that it might turn to defeat, but Sadie never shrank from a daring
venture. For a moment she could not speak; her heart was full.

"Hallo!" said Charnock, who got up and came towards her. "Crying, Sadie?
Will you miss me as much as that?"

Sadie hastily wiped her eyes. "Yes, Bob; I'll miss you all the time. But
if you'll come back the man you are now, I'll wait as long as you like."

"I'll try," said Charnock simply. "I'm not going to protest, but you
deserve a much better husband than you've got. If I can't come back
better fit to live with you, I won't come back at all."

"I wouldn't like that," Sadie answered, smiling uncertainly. "But I
guess I know what you mean. I'll wait, dear, because I know you are
going to make good."

Then, feeling that she had said enough, she began to make plans.
Something might be saved from the ruined crop and she had better keep
a heavy team, but Charnock could have the other horses if they were
required. She could carry on whatever work was possible after the frost
set in, and would pay off one of the hired men. Charnock approved, and
after a time Sadie leaned back in her chair.

"It's all fixed, but perhaps we mayn't need these plans," she said.
"Remember you're really going there to bring Festing home."

"That's understood. However, I don't think he'll come, and if so, it
will be Helen's money that prevents him. If he's foolish enough to doubt
her, I can put him right, which will be something."

"Yes," said Sadie, with a sigh. "Well, if he won't come, you must stop
and do the best you can."

In the meantime, Festing reached the railroad camp. It was raining when
the construction train rolled noisily through a mountain gorge, and he
stood at the door of the caboose, looking out. Three or four hundred
feet below, a green river, streaked with muddy foam, brawle