There had been a tonic in a certain attitude of Cater's mind toward Justin--an unspoken kindliness and admiration and tenderness such as an older man who has been along a hard road may feel toward another who has come along the same way. Cater's kind, unobtrusive comradeship, the fair-dealing friendliness of his rivalry, had seemed to be one of the factors of support, of honesty, of commercial righteousness. Justin could smile proudly at Leverich, but he couldn't smile when he thought of Cater--it weighed upon and humiliated him for the man who had been his friend. "I am glad, anyway!" said Lois. "It wouldn't have been _you_ if you had! Can't you take a rest now, dear, when you look so ill? No, no; I didn't mean that--of course you can't!" "A _rest_!" He rose and walked up and down the room. "Lois, do you know that, in some way, I've got to get it before the 13th? Those days in Chicago--at the worst time! It makes me wild to think of the time I've lost. I'm looking out for a partner who will buy out Leverich and Martin, and we've got a chance yet--I'll swear we have! But Lewiston's note has got to be paid first; then I can take time to breathe. Harker saw a man from Boston from whom we might have borrowed the money, if I had only been here. If we get that, we can hold over; if we don't, we go to smash, and so does Lewiston. Lewiston _trusted_ me. I've been to several places to-day to men that would be willing enough to lend the money if they didn't know I needed it." "George Sutton?" hazarded Lois. Justin's lips curved bitterly. "Oh, he's a cur. He had some money invested last year when he was sweet on Dosia, and drew it all out afterward! And, after all, I went to him to-day, like a fool!" "Can't you go to Eugene Larue?" "No. We talked about it once, but he fought shy; he didn't think the security enough. If he thought so then, it would be worse than useless now." "Mr. Girard?" "There's no use telling things to him, he hasn't any money." Justin turned a dim eye on her. "I tell you, Lois, I haven't left a stone unturned, so far, that I could get at. If we could only sell the island! Girard's looking it up for me; there may be a chance of that. There are lots of chances to be thought out. I don't even know how we keep running, but we do. Harker's a trump! If I can hold up my end, we'll be all right." "Then go to bed now," said Lois, with a quick dread that gave her courage. "And you must have something to eat first--and to drink, too. Come, Justin! Do as I say." Her voice had a new firmness in it which he unconsciously obeyed. She crept to her bed at last, aching in every limb, but with her baby pressed close to her, her one darling comfort, the source from which she drew a new love as the child drew its life from her. It was the first time in all her married life that she had borne the burden of her husband's care, a burden from which she must seek no solace from him.