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〃I've come to find out what you think you're doing out
here；〃 the younger man declared emphatically。 〃I want
to get next； I do。 When can you see me？〃
〃Anything on to…night？ Then suppose you dine with
me。 Where can I pick you up at five…thirty？〃
〃Bixby's office； general freight agent of the Burlington。〃
Ottenburg began to button his overcoat and drew on his
gloves。 〃I've got to have one shot at you before I go；
Archie。 Didn't I tell you Pinky Alden was a cheap squirt？〃
Alden's backer laughed and shook his head。 〃Oh； he's
worse than that； Fred。 It isn't polite to mention what he
is； outside of the Arabian Nights。 I guessed you'd come
to rub it into me。〃
Ottenburg paused； his hand on the doorknob； his high
color challenging the doctor's calm。 〃I'm disgusted with
you； Archie； for training with such a pup。 A man of your
experience！〃
〃Well； he's been an experience；〃 Archie muttered。 〃I'm
not coy about admitting it； am I？〃
Ottenburg flung open the door。 〃Small credit to you。
Even the women are out for capital and corruption； I hear。
Your Governor's done more for the United Breweries in
six months than I've been able to do in six years。 He's the
lily…livered sort we're looking for。 Good…morning。〃
That afternoon at five o'clock Dr。 Archie emerged from
the State House after his talk with Governor Alden； and
crossed the terrace under a saffron sky。 The snow； beaten
hard； was blue in the dusk； a day of blinding sunlight had
not even started a thaw。 The lights of the city twinkled
pale below him in the quivering violet air； and the dome of
the State House behind him was still red with the light
from the west。 Before he got into his car； the doctor paused
to look about him at the scene of which he never tired。
Archie lived in his own house on Colfax Avenue； where
he had roomy grounds and a rose garden and a conserva…
tory。 His housekeeping was done by three Japanese boys；
devoted and resourceful； who were able to manage Archie's
dinner parties； to see that he kept his engagements； and to
make visitors who stayed at the house so comfortable that
they were always loath to go away。
Archie had never known what comfort was until he
became a widower； though with characteristic delicacy； or
dishonesty； he insisted upon accrediting his peace of mind
to the San Felipe； to Time； to anything but his release from
Mrs。 Archie。
Mrs。 Archie died just before her husband left Moonstone
and came to Denver to live； six years ago。 The poor wo…
man's fight against dust was her undoing at last。 One
summer day when she was rubbing the parlor upholstery
with gasoline；the doctor had often forbidden her to use
it on any account； so that was one of the pleasures she
seized upon in his absence；an explosion occurred。 No…
body ever knew exactly how it happened； for Mrs。 Archie
was dead when the neighbors rushed in to save her from the
burning house。 She must have inhaled the burning gas and
died instantly。
Moonstone severity relented toward her somewhat after
her death。 But even while her old cronies at Mrs。 Smiley's
millinery store said that it was a terrible thing； they added
that nothing but a powerful explosive COULD have killed
Mrs。 Archie； and that it was only right the doctor should
have a chance。
Archie's past was literally destroyed when his wife died。
The house burned to the ground； and all those material
reminders which have such power over people disappeared
in an hour。 His mining interests now took him to Denver
so often that it seemed better to make his headquarters
there。 He gave up his practice and left Moonstone for
good。 Six months afterward； while Dr。 Archie was living
at the Brown Palace Hotel； the San Felipe mine began to
give up that silver hoard which old Captain Harris had
always accused it of concealing； and San Felipe headed the
list of mining quotations in every daily paper； East and
West。 In a few years Dr。 Archie was a very rich man。
His mine was such an important item in the mineral out…
put of the State； and Archie had a hand in so many of the
new industries of Colorado and New Mexico； that his poli…
tical influence was considerable。 He had thrown it all； two
years ago； to the new reform party； and had brought about
the election of a governor of whose conduct he was now
heartily ashamed。 His friends believed that Archie himself
had ambitious political plans。
II
WHEN Ottenburg and his host reached the house on
Colfax Avenue； they went directly to the library；
a long double room on the second floor which Archie had
arranged exactly to his own taste。 It was full of books and
mounted specimens of wild game； with a big writing…table
at either end； stiff； old…fashioned engravings； heavy hang…
ings and deep upholstery。
When one of the Japanese boys brought the cocktails；
Fred turned from the fine specimen of peccoray he had
been examining and said； 〃A man is an owl to live in such
a place alone； Archie。 Why don't you marry？ As for me；
just because I can't marry； I find the world full of charm…
ing； unattached women； any one of whom I could fit up a
house for with alacrity。〃
〃You're more knowing than I。〃 Archie spoke politely。
〃I'm not very wide awake about women。 I'd be likely to
pick out one of the uncomfortable onesand there are a
few of them； you know。〃 He drank his cocktail and rubbed
his hands together in a friendly way。 〃My friends here
have charming wives； and they don't give me a chance
to get lonely。 They are very kind to me； and I have a
great many pleasant friendships。〃
Fred put down his glass。 〃Yes； I've always noticed that
women have confidence in you。 You have the doctor's way
of getting next。 And you enjoy that kind of thing？〃
〃The friendship of attractive women？ Oh； dear； yes！
I depend upon it a great deal。〃
The butler announced dinner； and the two men went
downstairs to the dining…room。 Dr。 Archie's dinners were
always good and well served； and his wines were excellent。
〃I saw the Fuel and Iron people to…day；〃 Ottenburg said；
looking up from his soup。 〃Their heart is in the right place