hers were driving his partners off the claim.

"My money is gone. I asked for its return and I'm sure Searle cannot
repay me. I'm told he couldn't have used so much as thirty thousand
dollars in anything legitimate, so far, on the 'Laughing Water' claim.
If he'd forge a letter from you, and lie like this and deceive me so,
what wouldn't he do to rob these men of their mine?"

"I scent decay," said Glenmore gravely. "Have you got any plans in
your attic?"

"Why, I don't know what to do, of course!" she admitted. "But I've got
to do something. I've got to show Mr. Van Buren I'm not a willful
party to these horrible things. I don't believe I'll ever get my money
back. I don't want a share of a stolen mine. I'd be glad to let the
money go, and more--all I've got in the world--if only I could prove to
Van that I haven't deceived him, haven't taken part in anything
wrong--if only I could make these cheats give the 'Laughing Water'
back!"

"Van _is_ the candy. I'll have to meet him, sure," said Glen with
conviction, looking on her face. "I wish you were wise to more of this
game--the way they worked it--how they doped it out. I'll look around
and find out how the trick was done, and then we'll go to it together.
Guess I'll look for Van right off the bat."

She glanced at him with startled eyes.

"No, Glen--please don't. I'd rather you wouldn't--just yet. You don't
understand. I can't let him think I'm--making overtures. He must
think I have a _little_ pride. If his mine has been stolen I want to
give it back--before he ever sees me again. If you knew how much--oh,
how very much, I wish to do that----"

"I'm on," he interrupted. "It will do me good to put a crimp in
Searle."

CHAPTER XLI

SUVY PROVES HIS LOVE

If a single ray of far-off hope had lingered in Van's meditations
concerning Beth, and the various occurrences involving himself and his
mining property, it vanished when he told her of the letter he had seen
and beheld her apparent look of guilt.

One thing the interview had done: it had cleared his decks for action.
He had lain half stunned, as it were, till now, while Bostwick held the
"Laughing Water" claim and worked it for its gold. A look that was
grim and a heat that would brook no resistance had come together upon
him.

That claim was his, by right of purchase, by right of discovery as to
its worth! He had earned it by hardships, privations, suffering! He
meant to have