"I'm sure Natalie will help you in any way she can, Curtis. She isn't rebellious, she merely doesn't understand." "She doesn't need to understand. It is enough that I direct her--" As Natalie turned and walked silently to the window he stifled an oath. "Have I no authority?" he stormed. "Do you mean to obey?" "Wait!" Gloria laid a restraining hand on his arm. "Perhaps I can learn what you want to know. Mr. O'Neil was very kind--" Her daughter whirled, with white face and flashing eyes. "Mother!" she gasped. "Our loyalty begins at home," said Gloria, feebly. "Oh-h! I can't conceive of your--of such a thing. If you have no decency, I have. I'm sorry I spoke, but--if you DARE to do such a thing I shall warn Mr. O'Neil that you are a spy." She turned a glance of loathing on Gordon. "I see," she said, quietly. "You used me as a tool. You lied about your feeling toward him. You meant harm to him all the time." She faced the window again. "Lied!" he shouted. "Be careful--that's pretty strong language. Don't try me too far, or you may find yourself adrift once more. I have been too patient. But I have other ways of finding out what I wish to know, and I shall verify what you have told me." He strode angrily from the room, leaving Natalie staring out upon the bleak fall scene, her shoulders very straight, her breast heaving. Gloria did not venture to address her. Fortunately for the peace of all concerned, Gordon left for Seattle on the next steamer. Neither of the women believed that Natalie's fragmentary revelation was the cause of his departure; but, once in touch with outside affairs, he lost no time in running down the clues he had gathered, and it was not long before he had learned enough to piece the truth together. Then he once more brought his mimeograph into use. XXI DAN APPLETON SLIPS THE LEASH The first winter snows found O'Neil's track laid to the bridge site and the structure itself well begun. He had moved his office out to the front, and now saw little of Eliza, who was busied in writing her book. She had finished her magazine articles, and they had been accepted, but she had given him no hint as to their character. One afternoon "Happy Tom" burst in upon his chief, having hastened out from Omar on a construction-train. Drawing a Seattle paper from his pocket, he began excitedly: "Well, the fat's in the fire, Murray! Somebody has belched up the whole North Pass story." O'Neil seized the newspaper and scanned it hurriedly. He looked up, scowling. "Who gave this out?" he inquired, in a harsh voice. Slater shrugged. "It's in the Cortez Courier too, so I s'pose it came from Gordon. Blessings come from one source, and Gordon's the fountain of all evil. I'm getting so I blame him for everything unpleasant. Sometimes I think he gave me the smallpox." "Where did he learn the inside of Illis's deal? By God! There's a leak somewhere!" "Maybe he uncovered it back there in the States."