He walked languidly over the stone flagging to his room and dropped listlessly into a chair. It was not long before he heard Britt's alert step in the corridor quickly followed by his brisk rap upon the door. He always had liked the ambitious young engineer and they shook hands cordially. "I'm more than glad to see you." Britt laughed. "I dare say. A week in a place like this is much like a jail sentence unless you're hard at work. Are things in pretty much of a mess?" Van Lennop went over the situation briefly, and concluded-- "I'll stay over a day or so, if you desire." "There's no necessity, I think," said Britt, rising. "I'll keep in touch with you by wire. Crowheart again?" Van Lennop shook his head. "I'm going east from here." "Here's a late paper; perhaps you'd like to look it over. When I'm in a place like this I can read a patent medicine pamphlet, and enjoy it." Van Lennop smiled. "Much obliged. There's the supper gong. Don't wait for me; I'll be a little late." Van Lennop had no desire for food, much less for conversation, so he picked up the travel-worn newspaper which Britt had tossed upon the table and glanced at the headlines. The stock market was stronger. Nevada Con was up three points. The girl with the beautiful eyebrows had married that French jackanapes after all. Another famine in India. A Crowheart date-line caught his eye. WEALTHY SHEEPMAN MURDERED EDOUARD DUBOIS SHOT AND KILLED AT HIS CAMP BRIDE OF A DAY TO BE ARRESTED The story of Essie Tisdale's marriage with Dubois followed, and even the news editor's pencil could not eliminate Sylvanus Starr's distinctive style. He had made the most of a chance of a lifetime. "An old man's darling"--"Serpent he had warmed in his bosom"--"Weltering in his blood"--all the trite phrases and vulgarisms of country journalism were used to tell the sensational story which sickened Van Lennop as he read: "The arrest of the murdered patriarch's beautiful bride is expected hourly, as the leading citizens of Crowheart are clamoring for justice and are bringing strong pressure to bear upon Sheriff Treu, who seems strangely reluctant to act." The paper dropped from Van Lennop's nerveless hand and he sat staring at it where it lay. He picked it up and read the last paragraph, for his dazed brain had not yet grasped its meaning. But when its entire significance was made clear to him it came with a rush: it was like the instantaneous effect of some powerful drug or stimulant that turned the blood to fire and crazed the brain. The blind rage which made the room swing round was like the frenzy of insanity. Van Lennop's face went crimson and oaths that never had passed his lips came forth, choking-hot and inarticulate.