Jim had come up in time to hear the story and when Henderson had finished he said: "I've always claimed it was the mules that built the government dams. What would we have done with our fearful trails and distance and heavy freight without the mule? Some day when I get time, I'll write a rhapsody on the mule." The men laughed and made way for the doctor on his horse. But the doctor stopped and spoke very gravely to Uncle Denny. "Mrs. Saradokis wants you. Her husband is very low." CHAPTER XXV SARA GOES ON A JOURNEY "Love is the speaking voice of the Great Hunger. Happy the human who has found one great love. All nature speaks in him profoundly." MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT. Jim started up the road but Mr. Dennis stopped long enough to say, "Oughtn't you to be there, doctor?" The doctor nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can. They've just brought an hombre with a crushed leg into the hospital. Mrs. Flynn knows what to do and so does his wife. He may go any time." Uncle Denny panted after Jim, but before they reached the tent house, Mrs. Flynn stopped them on the trail. "It's all over," she said. "I've taken Mrs. Penelope over to our house. I'll take charge up here." "You don't mean Saradokis is dead?" cried Uncle Denny. "He is, God rest his poor wicked soul!" Jim stood white and rigid. "Did I hasten this with my scene last night, I wonder!" he asked huskily. Mrs. Flynn shook her head. "The doctor told me a month ago not to go out of reach of the tent house. That this was liable to come any time. He came out of the morphine near noon, held Mrs. Pen's hand and said she had slapped a lot of the bitterness out of his heart last night. Then he went to sleep and never woke up. Mr. Dennis, you go to Mrs. Penelope. Boss, you go and do the telegraphing that's necessary." It was supper time before Jim could leave the business of the dam and get up to his house. He and Uncle Denny had finished supper when Pen came out of Mrs. Flynn's room. She was white and spent, but she had not been crying. "Still," she said, "I want you to persuade Uncle Denny not to go back East with me and poor Sara. I am perfectly well and quite able to make the trip alone. Uncle Denny is needed here." "It's not to be thought of!" cried Dennis. "When the first shock is over I'm looking for you to go to pieces and I propose to be on the job." "Uncle Denny," said Pen quietly, "I shall not go to pieces. I feel the tragedy of Sara's life very deeply and I am very sad over it all. But I'm not a widow. I'm a nurse and friend whose job is over. It will be a pitiful journey to take Sara back to his father. But I shall be with dear Aunt Mary in New York. I shall get no rest unless I know that you are with Jim in this critical moment of his career." The two men looked at each other uncertainly. Suddenly Pen's voice shook: "Oh, don't make me argue!"