So it was finally settled, and no one seemed so well pleased with the arrangement as Miller himself. Adele entered the room with the air of one half fearful of intruding, and her three relatives quietly withdrew, leaving her to entertain the guest. “I wonder what's the matter with your brother,” Miller remarked, as his eyes followed Alan from the room. “Oh, brother?” laughed Adele. “No one tries to keep up with his whims and fancies.” “But, really,” said Miller, in a serious tone, “he has mystified me lately. I wonder if he has had bad news from Dolly. I've tried to get into a confidential chat with him several times of late, but he seems to get around it. Really, it seems to me, at times, that he treats me rather coldly.” “Oh, if you waste time noticing Al you 'll become a beggar,” and Adele gave another amused laugh. “Take my advice and let him alone.” “I almost believe you know what ails him,” said Miller, eying her closely. “I know what he _thinks_ ails him,” the girl responded. “And won't you tell me what--what he thinks ails him?” “No, I couldn't do that,” answered our young lady, with a knowing smile. “If you are ever any wiser on the subject you will have to get your wisdom from him.” She turned to the piano and began to arrange some scattered pieces of music, and he remained on the hearth, his back to the fire, his brow wrinkled in pleased perplexity. “I 'll have to get my wisdom from him,” repeated Miller, pronouncing each word with separate distinctness, as if one of them might prove the key to the mystery. “Yes, I should think two wise men could settle a little thing like that. If not, you may call in the third--you know there were three of you, according to the Bible.” “Oh, so there were,” smiled Miller; “but it's hard to tell when we three shall meet again. The last time I saw the other two they were having their sandals half-soled for a tramp across the desert. I came this way to build a railroad, and I believe I'm going to do it. That's linking ancient and modern times together with a coupling-pin, isn't it?” She came from the piano and stood by him, looking down into the fire. “Ah,” she said, seriously, “if you could _only_ do it!” “Would you like it very much?” “Very, very much; it means the world to us--to Alan, to father and mother, and--yes, to me. I hunger for independence.” “Then it shall be done,” he said, fervently. XXXII [Illustration: 9273] S the elevator in the big building was taking Rayburn Miller up to the offices of the Southern Land and Timber Company, many reflections passed hurriedly through his mind. “You are going to get the usual cold shoulder from Wilson,” he mused; “but he 'll put it up against something about as warm as he's touched in many a day. If you don't make him squirm, it will be only because you don't want to.”