d. The effort I made to see him--well--at
least, I'm glad I made the effort. But meantime, what of poor Glen?
Some little fear I have may be groundless. I shall therefore keep it
to myself--but I have it, perhaps because I am a woman. I must know
the truth about my brother--how he is--what has been happening. It is
far more important than I dare confess. I have written him a letter
and sent it to you in the hope you may not find it impossible to carry
it to Glen in person. If I am asking too much, please do not hesitate
to say so. I am sure you will be friendly enough for that--to say 'no'
if need be to another friend--_your_ friend, BETH KENT."

She did not regret that desert experience--that was almost enough for
him to know! He had lived in a glow since that wonderful night--and
this letter provided another. He rode like a proud young crusader of
old, with his head in a region of sunshine and gold, his vision
transfixed by a face. Her love had become his holy grail--and for that
he would ride to death itself.

His way he shortened, or thought to shorten, by dropping down from the
reservation heights to the new-made town a mile below. He came upon
the place abruptly, after dipping once into a canyon, and looked with
amazement on the place. In the past twelve hours it had doubled in
size and increased twenty-fold in its fever. The face of the desert
was literally alive with men and animals. Half of Goldite and
practically all of a dozen lesser camps were there. Confusion,
discomfort, and distraction seemed hopelessly enthroned. The "rush"
was written in men's faces, in their actions, in their baggage, words,
and rising temperature.

A dozen stalwart stampeders pounced upon Van like wolves. They wanted
to know what he thought of the reservation, where to go, whether or not
there was any more ground like that of the "Laughing Water" claim, what
he had heard from his Indian friends, and what he would take for his
placer. The crowd about him rapidly increased. Men in a time of
excitement such as this flock as madly as sheep whenever one may lead.
Anything is news--any man is of interest who has in his pocket a piece
of rock, or has in his eye a wink. No man is willing to be left
outside. He must know all there is to be known.

It was utterly useless for Van to protest his ignorance of the
reservation ground. He owned a deposit of placer gold. Success had
crowned his efforts. It was something