Devil's Ford

reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he

" asked Jessie, who had been watching h

had wandered from the le

we are to wait here unt

rther they go from the flat the worse it gets-that all the gold they will probably ever see at Devil's Ford is what they have already found o

is?" asked Chris

tes to me as if we already knew it-tells me not

sie?" said Christie, taking her

pose. It must be so, for he says poor pap

tes to you?" said C

ssie quickly. "He fe

ME anything,"

dn'

d Christi

ut people don't confide in you becau

wh

sing her. "There! I only wish I was like you. What do you say if we write to father that we'll go back to Devil's Ford

ecent for you to fly back without your father, at his suggestion," said Christie coldly. "He is not the

id Jessie, turning away

's, and one or two uneventful rides, Christie looked grave. It

tells you anything. Well, here's y

peated Christie. "

me as not being high-toned and elegant enough fo

ose pristine folds refused to adapt themselves entirely to the contour of his figure, he was somewhat subdued by the unexpected elegance of the drawing-room of Christie's host. But a glance at Christie's sad but gracious face quickly reassured him. Taking from his hat a three-cornered parcel, he unfolded a handsome saffr

ent, Mr. Hall, or did you try to

When a fash'nable star rises above the 'Frisco horizon-like Miss Carr-and, so to speak, dazzles the gineral eye, people want to know who she is. And when people say that's the accomplished daughter o' the accomplished superintendent of the Devil's Ford claim-otherwise known as the Star-eyed Goddess o' Devil's Ford-every eye is fixed on the mine, and Capital, so to speak, tumbles to her.' And when they sez that the old man-excuse my freedom, but that's the way the boys talk of your father, meaning no harm-the old man, instead o' trying to corral rich widders-grass or otherwise-to spend their money on the big works for the gold that ain't there yet-should stay in Devil's Ford and put all his sabe and genius into grindin' out the little gold that is there, I sez to them

was not greatly unlike the theories expounded by the clever young banker who had been her escort. S

Kearney the other

lanced hurriedly at Christie, and

ngly-yes-er-met him, you

lost everything," said Christie, fix

y glancing round the apartment as if endeavoring to fi

ial employment," added Christie, still

e he's dead broke-for him to go and demean himself and Devil's Ford by rushing away and hiring out as a Mexican vaquero on Mexican wages? Look,' sez I, 'at the disgrace he brings upon a high-toned, fash'nable girl, at whose side he's walked and danced, and passed rings, and sentiments, and bokays in the changes o' the cotillion and the mizzourka. And wot,' sez I, 'if some day, prancing along in a fash'nable cavalcade, she all of a sudd

the window, suddenly turned a very

before acted as our escort-it was for a short but a happy time-will you accept a larger trust? My father is busy in S

een an intense gratification and a desire to kee

I object to your letting Mr. Kearney, if you happen to know w

ne, saying that bizness of a social and delicate nature-being the escort of Miss C

her moist eyelashes. "Then will you go at once and secure tickets for to-ni

pulsively, and preparing

ou return with the tickets,

vely, got as far as

to take the tickets n

sly. "I've set my heart on going to-ni

e," interrupted Dic

said Christi

e room, lightly shook out his handkerchief, apparently flicked

ut not bein' in the habit of carryin' ready money, and

Pray forgive me, Mr. Hall. I didn't think. I'll run up an

the only piece of money in the world that had remained to him after his extravagant purchase of Christie's