"True women are the truest friends," said Jack tersely. "But how can either of them know anything regarding my work here?" "I will tell you," and very briefly Jack gave Houston an account of how his plans had first become known to Lyle, and of her subsequent interview with himself, begging his assistance in Houston's behalf. Houston was inexpressibly astonished and touched to find that the beautiful girl, whom he had considered friendless and helpless, and whom he had defended through a sense of chivalry, had, in return, served him so nobly and so opportunely. He resolved to see her and express to her his appreciation of what she had done, as early as possible. "I think," said Jack, in conclusion, "you will admit that by this means I have obtained a thorough understanding of what you wish to accomplish." "You understand it perfectly," Houston answered. "You will also admit that, after the years of experience that I have had in these particular mines, I must be thoroughly conversant with affairs in connection therewith, and could probably render you just the assistance you will need." "Most certainly you could," responded Houston quickly, "I know of no one in the entire camp who could assist us so well as you." "Then," said Jack, "the next and only consideration is, whether you have that degree of confidence in me, that you would feel warranted in trusting me implicitly,--" "Enough said," said Houston, interrupting him hastily but cordially, "I have that confidence in you, that, even if you had not sought this interview, sooner or later, I would have come to you for assistance." "Indeed!" exclaimed Jack, in surprise, "may I ask why?" Houston hesitated a moment, and then replied: "I believe, though we have met so recently, we may speak together as friends, or as brothers; you spoke a while ago of the faculty of perception; please credit me with possessing it in some degree myself, and while I do not wish to be personal or intrusive in my remarks, I am sure you will allow me to say, that if there is any degree of incongruity between my appearance and the position I hold, it certainly exists in a much greater degree in your own case. I, of course, know nothing of your past life; I wish to know nothing of it, except so far as you yourself would tell me, should you ever choose to do so, but this much I do know, and have known from the first, that you are vastly superior to your surroundings here. You claim,--and you are correct,--that I have had the advantages of excellent birth and breeding, of culture and wealth, but you are not one whit behind me in any of these things. Added to all this is the experience which you have accumulated in these late years, in this particular branch of work; surely it was not strange that I felt your acquaintance would be invaluable, could I but secure your friendship sufficiently for you to be interested in my plans."