Then, at last the iterated words of command that had been saying themselves through his own lips for three hours had somehow ceased, and something in his head had given way. He had lurched into the anteroom, tumbled over on a sofa and had fallen asleep at once from sheer exhaustion. And Dey--? Weakly cursing the gross selfishness that had let him sleep like a log while Desirée’s life had hung in the balance Conover got to his feet and made for the door of the sick room. His step was springless, clumping, noisy. Dr. Colfax, hearing it, came out from the inner room to meet him. Caleb gazed at the man with dull vacancy. He did not remember having seen him before. “Miss--Miss Shevlin?” asked Conover, thickly; his throat agonizingly raw from the long hours of tireless, unremittent calling. “She will get well, I think,” answered the specialist. “The crisis is past. The spine was not injured. But convalescence will be slow. Nursing is the only thing left to do now. I am leaving for New York by the six o’clock train.” Caleb’s apathetic look slowly changed to deep, growing wonder. “I think,” went on Dr. Colfax, watching Conover, narrowly, “it may be barely possible that you can thank yourself for her recovery. Perhaps I am mistaken. You see we doctors deal with _facts_. But, once in a century something happens outside the realm of fact. Mind you, I don’t go on record as saying this is one of those exceptions. But--I should like to ask you some questions when you are rested enough to--” “By and by,” assented Caleb. “But I’m going in there to see Dey now, if you don’t mind. Can I?” “Yes. She has been asking for you. Be careful not to excite her, or--” “I’ll be careful,” promised Caleb. Then, with a sheepish laugh, he added: “I’m glad you didn’t make me put up a fight about goin’ in to see her. I--I kind of feel as if there wasn’t any fight left in me.” THE END _GET THE BEST OUT-DOOR STORIES_ Stewart Edward White’s Great Novels of Western Life. GROSSET & DUNLAP EDITIONS THE BLAZED TRAIL Mingles the romance of the forest with the romance of man’s heart, making a story that is big and elemental, while not lacking in sweetness and tenderness. It is an epic of the life of the lumberman of the great forest of the Northwest, permeated by out of door freshness, and the glory of the struggle with nature. THE SILENT PLACES A powerful story of strenuous endeavor and fateful privation in the frozen North, embodying also a detective story of much strength and skill. The author brings out with sure touch and deep understanding the mystery and poetry of the still, frost-bound forest. THE CLAIM JUMPERS A tale of a Western mining camp and the making of a man, with which a charming young lady has much to do. The tenderfoot has a hard time of it, but meets the situation, shows the stuff he is made of, and “wins out.” THE WESTERNERS A tale of the mining camp and the Indian country, full of color and thrilling incident.