Part 21 (2/2)

The color came into Carrie's face and her eyes shone ”Perhaps I have helped solad Now I'm proud ofbeaten,” Jim replied with some emotion ”I think, if you had not been with us, ould have been beaten”

Carrie gave hilance ”It's done with, Jiood, for your sake and mine You see, if you couldn't have stood for it, I'd have lost confidence in myself”

”I'm not sure I do see,” Jiood to concentrate, but perhaps you concentrate too ht in front; you don't look about”

”I suppose I aood or not”

Carrie smiled rather curiously ”We didn't choose our characters; they were given us I wonder ould have happened had we been different----”

She stopped as they cli more until they reached the camp

CHAPTER XIV

THE RECKONING

When the line reached the settlement Jim and his party returned to Vancouver Shortly after their arrival Martin ca a notice in the _Colonist_ that you had finished the job, thought I'd like to tell you I was glad,” he said

Carrie thanked him and by and by he asked: ”Have you had a fresh offer from Baumstein for your copper claim?”

Jim said they had not and Martin smiled ”I reckon the offer will arrive, and now he knows you have got your pay he'll put up his price”

”If it does arrive, on't reply,” said Carrie, firood plan,” Martin remarked ”Bauive, but I'd take hold and negotiate until I thought he'd reached his lio along and try the Combine”

”Would they buy?” Jih Baumstein's pretty s in Northern copper; I do There's another thing; if you have got specimens, send some for assay to a different man”

Jiood as he had expected and the reed For all that, assayers were generally honest and skillful

”What's the matter with the man I went to?” he asked

”He's sometiant”

”Ah,” said Jiave him a dry smile ”I happen to know Bauet value for a risky loan”

The others said nothing, but they saw the significance of the hint and Jiot stern