"They nearly all possess them to a certain degree, in a latent, uncultivated form, perhaps, but still there. For example, what is the true secret of Maverick's hatred toward you, of Haight's enmity, except that they recognize by a sort of instinct that you belong to an altogether different sphere from that in which they move? They cannot reason it out perhaps, but they feel it;--your language, your conduct, your manner, the very cut of your clothes, though but a plain business suit, proclaim to one who can read, and reason from these things correctly, and deduct their results therefrom, that you are a man of the highest culture and refinement, of high moral character, and of wealth. Consequently, the question arises, 'What are you doing here?'" "Pardon me, I do not intend to be personal in my remarks," replied Houston, "but in my opinion, only a person who has himself moved in the highest circles of life would be able to reason in this manner." "Possibly," said Jack, "they would be better able to classify you, as it were, and assign you to your true position, but these others feel keenly that you are not of their world, but they are generally incapable of drawing any conclusions from their observations, as very few of them have the reasoning faculty, and hence, they would not be likely to question your object or motive in holding this position. My design, however, in thus calling your attention to these facts, is simply to show you that you need not be greatly surprised when I say that from your first coming here, I have felt that you were no ordinary employe; that you were merely holding this position temporarily, either in your own interests, or in the interests of some one else,--but not in the interests of the mining company. Notwithstanding the fact that I live a very secluded life, I yet have means of ascertaining nearly all that is going on around me, and I will say to you truthfully, that I learned the secret of your mission here without even asking a question." "I can scarcely understand," said Houston, "how you came to be the recipient of this secret, since you do not mingle with others, and apparently take very little interest in their affairs." "Perhaps," said Jack, in low, musical tones, "you would be able to understand the situation better, did you know that your secret was told me by a friend of yours, who believed that, through my very isolation and loneliness, I could the better assist you." "A friend of mine!" exclaimed Houston, in surprise, "Is it possible that my eastern friends are known to you, and that some one of them has written you?" "No one has written me, the story was told me by a friend of yours here." Instantly there flashed into Houston's mind the memory of Lyle's warning, and also of Miss Gladden's declaration that she had seen and talked with Jack, but how could his true position be known to either of them? "I have but two friends here, at present," was his reply, "and they are women."