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believe¡¡in¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡shake¡¡him£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡he's¡¡got¡¡a¡¡wife¡¡that's

making¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡of¡¡herself£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shouldn't¡¡wonder¡¡in¡¡timeof¡¡him£¡¡¨



Demorest¡¡pressed¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡his¡¡partner's¡¡mouth¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Come£»¡¡Jim£¡

You¡¡know¡¡you¡¡never¡¡really¡¡liked¡¡that¡¡marriage£»¡¡simply¡¡because¡¡you

thought¡¡that¡¡old¡¡man¡¡Carter¡¡made¡¡a¡¡good¡¡thing¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡you¡¡never

seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡into¡¡consideration¡¡the¡¡happiness¡¡Barker¡¡got¡¡out

of¡¡it£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡DID¡¡love¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡still¡¡is¡¡happy£»¡¡is¡¡he

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¡¨As¡¡happy¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡¡can¡¡be¡¡who¡¡has¡¡his¡¡child¡¡here¡¡with¡¡a¡¡nurse¡¡while

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and¡¡Lord¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡elseaway¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bidding¡¡of¡¡a¡¡smooth¡­tongued£»

shady¡¡operator¡£¡¨



¡¨Does¡¡HE¡¡complain¡¡of¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Demorest¡£



¡¨Not¡¡he£»¡¡the¡¡fool¡¡trusts¡¡her£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Stacy¡¡curtly¡£



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begrudge¡¡him¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I've¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡his¡¡affairs¡¡have¡¡again

prospered¡£¡¨



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dashed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡drive¡¡before¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Question¡¡him¡¡yourself¡£

You¡¡know¡¡you¡¡and¡¡he¡¡always¡¡get¡¡along¡¡best¡¡without¡¡me¡£¡¨



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beggar¡£¡¨



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yours¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡your¡¡engagement¡¡to¡¡Kitty¡£¡¨



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dear¡¡Kitty£¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡shall¡¡see¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡to¡­morrow¡£¡¨



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even¡¡beyond¡¡its¡¡crest¡£



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silence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡Stacy¡¡does¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡anything¡¡about¡¡his¡¡friend£»

the¡¡beautiful¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Horncastle¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡know¡¡he's¡¡the¡¡guardian¡¡of¡¡one

of¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡women¡¡in¡¡Californiaa¡¡woman¡¡as¡¡noble¡¡and¡¡generous¡¡as

she¡¡is¡¡handsome¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡He's¡¡protecting¡¡her¡¡from¡¡her

brute¡¡of¡¡a¡¡husband£»¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡after¡¡her¡¡property¡£¡¡¡¡Isn't¡¡it¡¡good

and¡¡chivalrous¡¡of¡¡him£¿¡¨



The¡¡irrepressible¡¡laughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡brought¡¡only¡¡wonder¡¡and

reproachful¡¡indignation¡¡into¡¡the¡¡widely¡¡opened¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡Barker¡£¡¡¡¡HE

was¡¡perfectly¡¡sincere¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡Stacy's¡¡admiration

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outcome¡¡of¡¡his¡¡interview¡¡with¡¡her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡singular¡¡effect¡¡she¡¡had

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convinced¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Stacy¡¡must¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡same¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡no

doubt£»¡¡she¡¡must¡¡respond¡¡to¡¡him¡¡equally¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡how¡¡noble¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in

his¡¡old¡¡partner£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡advantages¡¡of¡¡position¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡and

his¡¡protecting¡¡relations¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡avail¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡this

influence¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡generous¡¡nature¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡himselfa¡¡married¡¡man

and¡¡the¡¡husband¡¡of¡¡Kittywas¡¡so¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡her¡¡charm£»¡¡how¡¡much

greater¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡to¡¡the¡¡free¡¡and¡¡INEXPERIENCED¡¡Stacy¡£



The¡¡italics¡¡were¡¡in¡¡Barker's¡¡thought£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡those¡¡matters¡¡he¡¡felt

that¡¡Stacy¡¡and¡¡even¡¡Demorest£»¡¡occupied¡¡in¡¡other¡¡things£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡his

knowledge¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡or¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡heroically

sacrificing¡¡himself¡¡or¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Horncastle¡¡in¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡there

was¡¡not¡¡even¡¡an¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡a¡¡superior¡¡morality¡¡in¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡giving¡¡up

the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡loving¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Ever¡¡since¡¡Stacy¡¡had¡¡first¡¡seen¡¡her

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

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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£º



¡¨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¡£



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