ad put upon him a heavy
responsibility, but he must shoulder the load. Sadie and Helen and
Festing had given him much, and now the time had come to pay them back.
Moreover, with the responsibility had come a chance of proving and, so
to speak reinstating, himself. He was entangled in a coil from which
there was but one way out; he must stand by his comrade and finish the
contract, or own himself a wastrel. The difficulties were obvious,
but there was some encouragement. Perhaps the hardest battle had been
fought, for he had grappled with his craving for liquor and thought he
had won. Then the pain had not troubled him for some time.

The men gave him no trouble, and he imagined they worked with more
energy than usual. Now and then one or another stopped to ask, with
obvious sincerity, how the boss was getting on; men from the railroad
gangs, some of whom he scarcely knew, made inquiries, and Charnock felt
moved. His partner's justice had won him respect, but he saw that some
of the sympathy was meant for himself.

Two days later he heard the rumble of an approaching supply train and
walked up the track to meet it. The locomotive stopped farther off than
he expected, and a woman got down. Running forward, he saw that it was
Helen.

"Stephen's doing well; that's the first thing you'll want to know," he
said when they met.

"I know it already. A man told me as soon as the train stopped; he
seemed to guess who I am."

"Ah!" said Charnock; "the boys are very good! It makes me proud to feel
they all like Stephen. But why didn't you telegraph us? The Company
would have sent on the message."

Helen smiled. "I didn't see much use in doing so. You knew when
your letter would arrive and how long it would take me to come. It's
significant that you came to meet the train."

"Perhaps it's characteristic that I came too late to help you down! But
the engineer stopped short of the usual place, and I really have much to
do just now."

Helen gave him a quick glance. Bob had not lost his humor, but had
gained something else. He was thin and haggard, but looked determined.
Although his smile was frank, his mouth was firm and his eyes were
steady.

"I know!" she answered quickly; "I know what you have done for Stephen
and what you mean to do. There is nobody else who can help him and if
there was, the help would not be like yours."

"Thank you," said Charnock. "I'm afraid you're mistaken about one point,
but I have an extra re