There came the sharp click of the office gate. Inside the railing stood a slender man of medium height, slightly stooped forward. On his left arm hung a light overcoat. From a smooth face, with a mouth whose thin lips oscillated between assumed determination and cynical half-smiles, a pair of grey eyes twinkled with a humorously tolerant endurance of the frailties of his fellow-men. "Well, how are you?" The gloved right hand shot out an accompaniment to his words. Firmstone took the proffered hand. "Nothing to complain of. This is something of a surprise." This was true in regard to one mental attitude, but not of another. Firmstone voiced his hopes, not his judgment. "It shouldn't be." The eyes lost their twinkle as the mouth straightened to a line. "I'm afraid you hardly appreciate the gravity of the situation. The loss of $50,000 is serious, but it's no killing matter to a company with our resources. It's the conditions which make such losses possible." "Yes." Firmstone spoke slowly. The twinkle was in his eyes now. "As I understand it, this is the first time conditions have made such a loss possible." The significance of the words was lost on Hartwell. The possibility of a view-point other than his own never occurred to him. "We will not discuss the matter now. I shall be here until I have straightened things out. I have brought my sister with me. Her physician ordered a change of air. Beatrice, allow me to introduce my superintendent, Mr. Firmstone." A pink and white face, with a pair of frank, blue eyes, looked out from above a grey travelling suit, and acknowledged the curt introduction. "I am very happy to meet you." Firmstone took the proffered hand in his own. Miss Hartwell smiled. "Don't make any rash assertions. I am going to be here a long time. Where are you going, Arthur?" She turned to her brother, who, after fidgeting around, walked briskly across the room. "I'll be back directly. I want to look after your room. Make yourself comfortable for a few minutes." Then addressing Firmstone, "I suppose our quarters upstairs are in order?" "I think so. Here are the keys. Or will you allow me?" "No, thanks. I'll attend to it." Hartwell took the keys and left the room. Firmstone turned to Miss Hartwell. "What kind of a trip did you have out?" "Delightful! It was hot and dusty across the plains, but then I didn't mind. It was all so new and strange. I really had no conception of the size of our country before." "And here, even, you are only a little more than half way across." "I know, but it doesn't mean much to me." "Does the altitude trouble you?" "You mean Marshall Pass?" "Yes. In part, but you know Denver is over five thousand feet. Some people find it very trying at first."