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land he had left in those great heroics of nature before him。
Those enormous trees were no woods for fauns or dryads； they had
their own godlike majesty of bulk and height； and as he at last
climbed the summit and saw the dark…helmeted head of Black Spur
before him； and beyond it the pallid； spiritual cloud of the
Sierras； he did not think of Olympus。 Yet for a moment he was
startled； as he turned to the right； by the Doric…columned facade
of a temple painted by the moonbeams and framed in an opening of
the dark woods before him。 It was not until he had reached it that
he saw that it was the new wooden post…office of Heavy Tree Hill。
And now the buildings of the new settlement began to faintly
appear。 But the obscurity of the shadow and the equally disturbing
unreality of the moonlight confused him in his attempts to
recognize the old landmarks。 A broad and well…kept winding road
had taken the place of the old steep； but direct trail to his
cabin。 He had walked for some moments in uncertainty； when a
sudden sweep of the road brought the full crest of the hill above
and before him； crowned with a tiara of lights； overtopping a long
base of flashing windows。 That was all that was left of Heavy Tree
Hill。 The old foreground of buckeye and odorous ceanothus was
gone。 Even the great grove of pines behind it had vanished。
There was already a stir of life in the road； and he could see
figures moving slowly along a kind of sterile； formal terrace
spread with a few dreary marble vases and plaster statues which had
replaced the natural slope and the great quartz buttresses of
outcrop that supported it。 Presently he entered a gate； and soon
found himself in the carriage drive leading to the hotel veranda。
A number of fair promenaders were facing the keen mountain night
wind in wraps and furs。 Demorest had replaced his coat； but his
boots were red with dust； and as he ascended the steps he could see
that he was eyed with some superciliousness by the guests and with
considerable suspicion by the servants。 One of the latter was
approaching him with an insolent smile when a figure darted from
the vestibule； and； brushing the waiter aside； seized Demorest's
two hands in his and held him at arm's length。
〃Demorest； old man！〃
〃Stacy； old chap！〃
〃But where's your team？ I've had all the spare hostlers and hall…
boys listening for you at the gate。 And where's Barker？ When he
found you'd given the dead…cut to the railroadHIS railroad； you
knowhe loped over to Boomville after you。〃
Demorest briefly explained that he had walked by the old road and
probably missed him。 But by this time the waiters； crushed by the
spectacle of this travel…worn stranger's affectionate reception by
the great financial magnate； were wildly applying their brushes and
handkerchiefs to his trousers and boots until Stacy again swept
them away。
〃Get off； all of you！ Now； Phil； you come with me。 The house is
full； but I've made the manager give you a lady's drawing…room
suite。 When you telegraphed you'd meet us HERE there was no chance
to get anything else。 It's really Mrs。 Van Loo's family suite； but
they were sent for to go to Marysville yesterday； and so we'll run
you in for the night。〃
〃But〃protested Demorest。
〃Nonsense！〃 said Stacy； dragging him away。 〃We'll pay for it； and
I reckon the old lady won't object to taking her share of the
damage either； or she isn't Van Loo's mother。 Come。〃
Demorest felt himself hurried forward by the energetic Stacy；
preceded by the obsequious manager； through a corridor to a
handsomely furnished suite； into whose bathroom Stacy incontinently
thrust him。
〃There！ Wash up； and by the time you're ready Barker ought to be
back； and we'll have supper。 It's waiting for us in the other
room。〃
〃But how about Barker； the dear boy？〃 persisted Demorest； holding
open the door。 〃Tell me； is he well and happy？〃
〃About as well as we all are；〃 said Stacy quickly； yet with a
certain dry significance。 〃Never mind now； wait until you see
him。〃
The door closed。 When Demorest had finished washing； and wiped
away the last red stain of the mountain road； he found Stacy seated
by the window of the larger sitting…room。 In the centre a table
was spread for supper。 A bright fire of hickory logs burnt on a
marble hearth between two large windows that gave upon the distant
outline of Black Spur。 As Stacy turned towards him； by the light
of the shaded lamp and flickering fire； Demorest had a good look at
the face of his old friend and partner。 It was as keen and
energetic as ever； with perhaps an even more hawk…like activity
visible in the eye and nostril； but it was more thoughtful and
reticent in the lines of the mouth under the closely clipped beard
and mustache； and when he looked up； at first there were two deep
lines or furrows across his low broad forehead。 Demorest fancied；
too； that there was a little of the old fighting look in his eye；
but it softened quickly as his friend approached； and he burst out
with his curt but honest single…syllabled laugh。 〃Ha！ You look a
little less like a roving Apache than you did when you came。 I
really thought the waiters were going to chuck you。 And you ARE
tanned！ Darned if you don't look like the profile stamped on a
Continental penny！ But here's luck and a welcome back； old man！〃
Demorest passed his arm around the neck of his seated partner； and
grasping his upraised hand said； looking down with a smile； 〃And
now about Barker。〃
〃Oh； Parker； dn him！ He's the same unshakable； unchangeable；
ungrow…upable Barker！ With the devil's own luck； too！ Waltzing
into risks and waltzing out of 'em。 With fads enough to put him in
the insane asylum if people did not prefer to keep him out of it to
help 'em。 Always believing in everybody； until they actually
believe in themselves； and shake him！ And he's got a wife that's
making a fool of herself； and I shouldn't wonder in timeof him！〃
Demorest pressed his hand over his partner's mouth。 〃Come； Jim！
You know you never really liked that marriage； simply because you
thought that old man Carter made a good thing of it。 And you never
seem to have taken into consideration the happiness Barker got out
of it； for he DID love the girl。 And he still is happy； is he
not？〃 he added quickly； as Stacy uttered a grunt。
〃As happy as a man can be who has his child here with a nurse while
his wife is gallivanting in San Francisco； and throwing her money
and Lord knows what elseaway at the bidding of a smooth…tongued；
shady operator。〃
〃Does HE complain of it？〃 asked Demorest。
〃Not he； the fool trusts her！〃 said Stacy curtly。
Demorest laughed。 〃That is happiness！ Come； Jim！ don't let us
begrudge him that。 But I've heard that his affairs have again
prospered。〃
〃He built this railroad and this hotel。 The bank owns both now。
He didn't care to