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he had fancied that Stacy liked her；indeed； Kitty fancied it；
too；and it seemed almost providential now that he should know how
to assist his old partner to happiness。 For it was inconceivable
that Stacy should not be able to rescue this woman from her
shameful bonds； or that she should not consent to it through his
（Barker's） arguments and entreaties。 To a 〃champion of dames〃 this
seemed only right and proper。 In his unfailing optimism he
translated Stacy's laugh as embarrassment and Demorest's as only
ignorance of the real question。 But Demorest had noticed； if he
had not； that Stacy's laugh was a little nervously prolonged for a
man of his temperament； and that he had cast a very keen glance at
Barker。 A messenger arriving with a telegram brought from
Boomville called Stacy momentarily away； and Barker was not slow to
take advantage of his absence。
〃I wish； Phil；〃 he said； hitching his chair closer to Demorest；
〃that you would think seriously of this matter； and try to persuade
Stacywho； I believe； is more interested in Mrs。 Horncastle than
he cares to showto put a little of that determination in love
that he has shown in business。 She's an awfully fine woman； and in
every way suited to him； and he is letting an absurd sense of pride
and honor keep him from influencing her to get rid of her
impossible husband。 There's no reason；〃 continued Barker in a
burst of enthusiastic simplicity； 〃that BECAUSE she has found some
one she likes better； and who would treat her better； that she
should continue to stick to that beast whom all California would
gladly see her divorced from。 I never could understand that kind
of argument； could you？〃
Demorest looked at his companion's glowing cheek and kindling eye
with a smile。 〃A good deal depends upon the side from which you
argue。 But； frankly； Barker boy； though I think I know you in all
your phases； I am not prepared yet to accept you as a match…maker！
However； I'll think it over； and find out something more of this
from your goddess； who seems to have bewitched you both。 But what
does Mistress Kitty say to your admiration？〃
Barker's face clouded； but instantly brightened。 〃Oh； they're the
best of friends； they're quite like us； you know； even to larks
they have together。〃 He stopped and colored at his slip。 But
Demorest； who had noticed his change of expression； was more
concerned at the look of half incredulity and half suspicion with
which Stacy； who had re…entered the room in time to hear Barker's
speech； was regarding his unconscious younger partner。
〃I didn't know that Mrs。 Horncastle and Mrs。 Barker were such
friends；〃 he said dryly as he sat down again。 But his face
presently became so abstracted that Demorest said gayly：
〃Well； Jim； I'm glad I'm not a Napoleon of Finance！ I couldn't
stand it to have my privacy or my relaxation broken in upon at any
moment； as yours was just now。 What confounded somersault in
stocks has put that face on you？〃
Stacy looked up quickly with his brief laugh。 〃I'm afraid you'd be
none the wiser if I told you。 That was a pony express messenger
from New York。 You remember how Barker； that night of the strike；
when we were sitting together here； or very near here； proposed
that we ought to have a password or a symbol to call us together in
case of emergency； for each other's help？ Well； let us say I have
two partners； one in Europe and one in New York。 That was my
password。〃
〃And； I hope； no more serious than ours；〃 added Demorest。
Stacy laughed his short laugh。 Nevertheless； the conversation
dragged again。 The feverish gayety of the early part of the
evening was gone； and they seemed to be suffering from the
reaction。 They fell into their old attitudes； looking from the
firelight to the distant bulk of Black Spur without a word。 The
occasional sound of the voices of promenaders on the veranda at
last ceased； there was the noise of the shutting of heavy doors
below； and Barker rose。
〃You'll excuse me； boys； but I must go and say good…night to little
Sta； and see that he's all right。 I haven't seen him since I got
back。 But〃to Demorest〃you'll see him to…morrow； when Kitty
comes。 It is as much as my life is worth to show him before she
certifies him as being presentable。〃 He paused； and then added：
〃Don't wait up； you fellows； for me； sometimes the little chap
won't let me go。 It's as if he thought； now Kitty's away； I was
all he had。 But I'll be up early in the morning and see you。 I
dare say you and Stacy have a heap to say to each other on
business； and you won't miss me。 So I'll say good…night。〃 He
laughed lightly； pressed the hands of his partners in his usual
hearty fashion； and went out of the room； leaving the gloom a
little deeper than before。 It was so unusual for Barker to be the
first to leave anybody or anything in trouble that they both
noticed it。 〃But for that；〃 said Demorest； turning to Stacy as the
door closed； 〃I should say the dear fellow was absolutely
unchanged。 But he seemed a little anxious to…night。〃
〃I shouldn't wonder。 He's got two women on his mind；as if one
was not enough。〃
〃I don't understand。 You say his wife is foolish； and this other〃
〃Never mind that now；〃 interrupted Stacy； getting up and putting
down his pipe。 〃Let's talk a little business。 That other stuff
will keep。〃
〃By all means；〃 said Demorest； with a smile； settling down into his
chair a little wearily； however。 〃I forgot business。 And I
forgot； my dear Jim； to congratulate you。 I've heard all about
you； even in New York。 You're the man who； according to everybody；
now holds the finances of the Pacific Slope in his hands。 And；〃 he
added； leaning affectionately towards his old partner； 〃I don't
know any one better equipped in honesty； straightforwardness； and
courage for such a responsibility than you。〃
〃I only wish；〃 said Stacy； looking thoughtfully at Demorest； 〃that
I didn't hold nearly a million of your money included in the
finances of the Pacific Slope。〃
〃Why；〃 said the smiling Demorest； 〃as long as I am satisfied？〃
〃Because I am not。 If you're satisfied； I'm a wretched idiot and
not fit for my position。 Now； look here； Phil。 When you wrote me
to sell out your shares in the Wheat Trust I was a little
staggered。 I knew your gait； my boy； and I knew； too； that； while
you didn't know enough to trust your own opinions or feeling； you
knew too much to trust any one's opinion that wasn't first…class。
So I reckoned you had the straight tip； but I didn't see it。 Now；
I ought not to have been staggered if I was fit for your confidence；
or； if I was staggered； I ought to have had enough confidence in
myself not to mind you。 See？〃
〃I admit your logic； old man；〃 said Demorest； with an amused face；
〃but I don't see your premises。 WHEN did I tell you to sell out？〃
〃Two days ago。 You wrote just after you arrived。〃
〃I have never written to you since I arrived。 I only telegraphed
to you to know where we should meet； and received your message to
come here。〃
〃You never wrote me from San Francisco？〃
〃Never。〃
Stacy looked concernedly at his friend。 Was he in his right mind？
He had heard of cases where melancholy brooding on a fixed idea had
affected the memory。 He took from his pocket a letter…case； and
selecting a letter handed it to Demorest without speaking。
Demorest glanced at it； turned it over； read its contents； and in a
grave voice said； 〃There is something wrong here。 It is like my
handwriting； but I never wrote the letter； nor has it been in my
hand before。〃
Stacy sprang to his side。 〃Then it's a forgery！〃
〃Wait a moment。〃 Demorest； who； although very grave； was the more
collected of the two； went to a writing…desk； selected a sheet of
paper； and took up a pen。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃dictate that letter to
me。〃
Stacy began； Demorest's pen rapidly following him：
〃DEAR JIM；On receipt of this get rid of my Wheat Trust shares at
whatever figure you can。 From the way things pointed in New York〃
〃Stop！〃 interrupted Demorest。
〃Well？〃 said Stacy impatiently。
〃Now； my dear Jim；〃 said Demorest plaintively； 〃when did you ever
know me to write such a sentence as 'the way things pointed'？〃
〃Let me finish reading；〃 said Stacy。 This literary sensitiveness
at such a moment seemed little short of puerility to the man of
business。
〃From the way things pointed in New York；〃 continued Stacy； 〃and
from private advices received； this seems to be the only prudent
course before the feathers begin to fly。 Longing to see you again
and the dear old stamping…ground at Heavy Tree。 Love to Barker。
Has the dear old boy been at any fresh crank lately？
〃Yours； PHIL DEMOREST。〃
The dictation and copy finished together。 Demorest laid the
freshly written sheet beside the letter Stacy had