She shrank back against her husband, amazed and hurt. “What do you mean?” she stammered; “we—we are married. Will you not speak to my—my husband?”

A silence, too awful to last, was broken by a hoarse laugh.

“You’re all right, Jim,” said the elder Crawford, slowly. “Ophir Steel won’t slip through your fingers when I’m under the sod. Been married long, Jim?

[Contents]


THE FIRE-WARDEN


I

AND of course what I buy is my own,” continued Burleson, patiently. “No man here will question that, I suppose?”