"That 'with' is in the way, Barzilla," Bassett said wearily. "What is the scheme?" asked Mr. Cameron with curiosity. "Oh," said Bassett more cheerfully, "Barzilla's got a good idea, no doubt. Let him explain it to you sometime, Mr. Cameron. But as I tell him, it's nothing to interest me," and his tone dropped again. "I'll have to write to Inness and take up his offer." "Ah!" ejaculated the editor. "Have you already heard from your friend?" "From Inness? Yes. I wrote him. He tells me that there is a mining company in Arizona with the directors of which he has some influence. There is a clerkship open there. It will give us a livelihood; and I suppose the climate would be all right for my wife." "There ain't no finer climate in the world than this we got right here--summer _an'_ winter," Mr. Ball declared with vehemence. "Why! you can see your baby grow." "It is true," said Joe Bassett with gravity. "I can see life coming back to the baby, Mr. Cameron. I wish his mother showed equal improvement." "It's a far way to Arizona," observed the editor. "Do you think that climate would do more for your wife, Bassett?" "I do not know." "It will cost a lot to get there." "That--that is another thing," observed young Bassett hesitatingly. "Inness offers to pay our fares." "Yes? Is there any reason why he should want to get you out of the way--out of New York?" asked Mr. Cameron curiously. "Well, not exactly. But it may be that somebody whose mouthpiece he is, prefers to have me at a distance," replied Bassett, and then fell silent. Carolyn's father thought he understood that. He said to his wife that evening after Carolyn was in bed and asleep: "I am not sure that my interview that time with the Griffin did any real good; but it is bearing fruit, I believe. Through this man Inness--and he did not impress me as being a very pleasant person--Bassett is trying to send the young fellow somewhere, well out of the way, where he and his little family will have a chance for their lives at least." "I am sorry they are not to remain here," Mrs. Cameron remarked. "The girl is a lovely creature, and, despite her bringing up, her character seems unspoiled." "That does not gibe with what the Griffin stated as his opinion. He said her extravagance was the cause of Joe's downfall--that she was a perfectly useless creature." "I am convinced he knows very little about her," declared Hannah Cameron with vigour. "She's nothing like that. For a girl brought up as she was, she is doing wonderfully well. And she has a heart of gold. I believe he maligns her." "Well, it's too bad. But what can we do? There's no chance for Joe Bassett on this island." "Nor am I sure that is so," rejoined his wife slowly. "He and Mr. Ball have become great friends. Molly says she never saw her brother take to anybody as he has to Mr. Bassett." "Humph! I don't suppose Bassett can do Barzilla any harm." "Oh, Lewis!"