Quintana anyway."
Darragh went over and looked silently at Mike Clinch
"I liked you," he said under his breath. "It wasn't your fault. And itwasn't mine, Mike. ... I'll try to square things. Don't worry."
He came back slowly to where Stormont was standing near the door:
"Jack," he said, "you can't marry Eve on a Trooper's pay. Why not quitand take over the Harrod estate? ... You and I can go into businesstogether later if you like."
After a pause: "That's rather wonderful of you, Jim," said Stormont,"but you don't know what sort of business man I'd make----"
"I know what sort of officer you made. ... I'm taking no chance. ... AndI'll make my peace with Eve -- or somebody will do it for me. .. Is itsettled then?"
"Thanks," said Trooper Stormont, reddening. They clasped hands. ThenStormont went about and lighted the candles in the room. Clinch's face,again revealed, was still faintly amused at something or other. Thedead have much to be amused at.
As Darragh was about to go, Stormont said: "We're burying Clinch ateleven to-morrow morning. The Ghost Lake Pilot officiates."
"I'll come if it won't upset Eve," said Darragh.
"She won't notice anybody, I fancy," remarked Stormont.
He stood by the veranda and watched Darragh take the Lake Trail throughthe snow. Finally the glimmer of his swinging lantern was lost in thewoods and Stormont mounted the stairs once more, stood silently by Eve'sopen door, realised she was still heavily asleep, and seated himself ona chair outside her door to watch and wait.
* * * * *
All night long it snowed hard over the Star Pond country, and the lategrey light of morning revealed a blinding storm pelting a white robedworld.
Toward ten o'clock, Stormont, on guard, noticed that Eve was growingrestless.
Downstairs the flotsam of the forest had gathered again: Mr. Lyken wasthere in black gloves; the Reverend Laomi Smatter had arrived in asleigh from Ghost Lake. Both were breakfasting heavily.
The pretty, sulky-faced girl fetched a tray and placed Eve's breakfaston it; and Trooper Stormont carried it to her room.
She was awake when he entered. He set the tray on the table. She putboth her arms around his neck.
"Jack," she murmured, her eyes tremulous with tears.
"Everything has been done," he said. "Will you be ready by eleven?I'll come for you."
She clung to him in silence for a while.
* * * * *
At eleven he knocked on her door. She opened it. She wore her blackwool gown and a black fur turban. Some of her pallor remained -- tracesof tears and bluish smears under both eyes. But her voice was steady.
"Could I see Dad a moment alone?"
"Of course."
She took his arm: they descended the stairs. There seemed to be manypeople about but she did not lift her eyes until her lover led her intothe dance hall where Clinch lay smiling his mysterious smile.
Then Stormont left her alone there and closed the door.
* * * * *
In a terrible snow-storm they buried Mike Clinch on the spot he hadselected, in order that he might keep a watchful eye on the trespassingghost of old man Harrod.
It blew and stormed and stormed, and the thin, nasal voice of "Rev.Smatter" was utterly lost in the wind. The slanting laces of snow drovedown on the casket, building a white mound over the flowers, blottingthe hemlock boughs from sight.
There was no time to be lost now; the ground was freezing under aveering and bitter wind out of the west. Mr. Lyken's talentedassistants had some difficulty in shaping the mound which snow began tomake into a white and flawless monument.
The last slap of the spade rang with a metallic jar across the lake,where snow already blotted the newly forming film of ice; the humandenizens of the wilderness filtered back into it one by one; "Rev.Smatter" got into his sleigh, plainly concerned about the road; Mr.Lyken betrayed unprofessional haste in loading his wagon with histalented assistants and starting for Ghost Lake.
A Game Protector or two put on snow-shoes when they departed. TrooperLannis led out his horse and Stormont's, and got into the saddle.
"I'd better get these beasts into Ghost Lake while I can," he said."You'll follow on snow-shoes, won't you, Jack?"
"I don't know. I may need a sleigh for Eve. She can't remain here allalone. I'll telephone the Inn."
Darragh, in blanket outfit, a pair of snow-shoes on his back, a rifle inhis mittened hand, came trudging up from the lake. He and Stormontwatched Lannis riding away with the two horses.
"He'll make it all right, but it's time he started," said the latter.
Darragh nodded: "Some storm. Where is Eve?"
"In her room."
What is she going to do, Jack?"
"Marry me as soon as possible. She wants to stay here for a few daysbut I can't leave her here alone. I think I'll telephone to Ghost Lakefor a sleigh."
"Let me talk to her," said Darragh in a low voice.
"Do you think you'd better -- at such a time?"
"I think it's a good time. It will divert her mind, anyway. I want herto come to Harrod Place."
"She won't," said Stormont grimly.
"She might. Let me talk to her."
"Do you realise how she feels toward you, Jim?"
"I do, indeed. And I don't blame her. But let me tell you; Eve Strayeris the most honest and fair-minded girl I ever knew. ... Except one. ...I'll take a chance that she'll listen to me. ... Sooner or later shewill be obliged to hear what I have to tell her. ... But it will beeasier for her -- for everybody -- if I speak to her now. Let me try,Jack."
Stormont hesitate, looked at him, nodded. Darragh stood his rifleagainst the bench on the kitchen porch. They entered the house slowly.And met Eve descending the stairs.
The girl looked at Darragh, astonished, then her pale face flushed withanger.
"What are you doing in this house?" she demanded unsteadily. "Have youno decency, no shame?"
"Yes," he said, "I am ashamed of what my kinsman has done to you andyours. That is partly why I am here."
"You came here as a spy," she said with hot contempt. "You lied aboutyour name; you lied about your purpose. You came here to betray Dad!If he had known it he would have killed you!"
"Yes, he would have. But -- do you know why I came here, Eve?"
"I've told you!"
"And you are wrong. I didn't come here to betray Mike Clinch; I cameto save him."
"Do you suppose I believe a man who has lied to Dad?" she cried.
"I don't ask you to, Eve. I shall let somebody else prove what I say.I don't blame you for your attitude. God knows I don't blame MikeClinch. He stood up like a man to Henry Harrod. ... All I ask is toundo some of the rotten things that my uncle did to you and yours. Andthat is partly why I came here."
The girl said passionately: "Neither Dad nor I want anything from HarrodPlace or from you! Do you suppose you can come here after Dad is deadand pretend you want to make amends for what your uncle did to us?"
"Eve," said Darragh gravely, "I've made some amends already. You don'tknow it, but I have. ... You may not believe it, but I liked yourfather. He was a real man. Had anybody done to me what Henry Harroddid to your father I'd have behaved as your father behaved; I'd neverhave budged from this spot; I'd have hunted where I chose; I'd haveborne an implacable hatred against Henry Harrod and Harrod Place, andevery soul in it!"
The girl, silenced, looked at him without belief.
He said: "I am not surprised that you distrust what I say. But the manyou are going to marry was a junior officer in my command. I have nocloser friend than Jack Stormont. Ask him whether I am to be believed."
Astounded, the girl turned a flushed, incredulous face to Stormont.
He said: "You may trust Darragh as you trust me. I don't know what hehas to say to you, dear. But whatever he says will be the truth."
Darragh said, gravely: "Through a misunderstanding your
father came intopossession of stolen property, Eve. He did not know it had been stolen.I did. But Mike Clinch would not have believed me if I told him thatthe case of jewels in his possession had been stolen from a woman. ...Quintana stole them. By accident they came into your father'spossession. I learned of this. I had promised this woman to recoverher jewels.
"I cam here for that purpose, Eve. And for two reasons: first, becauseI learned that Quintana also was coming here to rob your father of thesegems; second, because, when I knew your father, and knew _you,_ Iconcluded that it would be an outrage
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