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s a friend, perhaps as a lover--and then he had looked away. He knew, of course, how his past actions must appear in the light of this later advice; but he had told her the truth and gone. The question was: What should she do?
Virginia returned to her room and locked the door while her mother stormed around outside and at last she came to a decision. What Wiley had told her had been said in strictest confidence and it would not be fair to pass it on; but if he advised her not to sell he had a reason for his advice, and that reason was not far to find. It was in that white stone that he had stolen from her collection, and in the white quartz he had gathered from the dump. He claimed, of course, that he had not had her specimen assayed; but why, then, had he come back for more? And why had he been so careful to tell her and everyone that he would not take the Paymaster as a gift? As a matter of fact, he owned it that minute by virtue of his delinquent tax-sale, and his goings and comings had been nicely timed to enable him to keep track of his property. He was shrewd, that was all, but now she could read him; for he had spoken, for once, from his heart.
The mail that night bore a sample of white quartz to a custom assayer in Vegas, but Virginia guarded her secret well. She had gained it by wiles that were not absolutely straight-forward, in that she had squeezed Wiley's hand in return, and since by so doing she had compromised with her conscience she placated it by withholding the great news. If she told her mother she would create a scene with Blount and demand the return of her stock; and the secret would get out and everybody would be buying stock and Wiley would blame it on her. No, everything must be kept dark and she mailed her sample when even the postmistress was gone. Perhaps Wiley was right in his extreme subterfuges and in always covering up his hand, but she would show him that there were others just as smart. She would take a leaf from his book and play a lone hand, too; only now, of course, she could not leave town.
"Virginia!" scolded the Widow, when for the hundredth time she had discovered her dawdling at her packing. "If you don't get up and come and help me this minute I'll unpack and let you go alone."
"Well, let's both unpack," said Virginia thoughtfully, and the Widow sat down with a crash.
"Now, you hush up!" returned Virginia, flushing angrily. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Oh, you make me tired!" exclaimed Virginia, spitefully. "I'm staying here to watch that mine."
"No, nothing of the kind! No! Can't you hear me? Oh, Mother, you'd drive a person crazy!"
"I--see!" observed the Widow and stood nodding her head as Virginia went on with her protests. "Oh, my Lord!" she burst out, "and I put up all my stock for a measly eight hundred dollars! That scoundrelly Blount--I saw it in his eye the minute I mentioned my stock! He's tricked me, the rascal; but I'll fool him yet--I'll pay him back and get my stock!"
"You'll pay him back? Why, you've spent half the money to redeem your jewels and the diamonds!"
"Well, I'll pawn them again. Oh, it makes me wild to think how that rascal has tricked me!"
"Virginia Huff!" cried her mother, dramatically, "are you in love with that--thief?"
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