"I don't think you're very merciful to me," said Mary Gage. "Why, yes. God has shut your eyes to our new and distracted world. This new world?--you ought to be thankful that you cannot see it. I wish I did not have to see it. But you don't want to hear me talk? You don't want philosophizing? I'm afraid I'm not very happy in my philosophy after all." He rose, hands in pockets, and tried to pace up and down the narrow little room. "Don't move the chairs, please," said she. "I know where they all are now." He laughed, and again seated himself. "You know why I've come up? I suppose Sim has told you that we're going to have a soldier post here in your yard?" "Yes, I was glad of that--it seemed like company." "It will make you feel a great deal safer. And did your husband tell you that I'm going to be a person of consequence now? I'm a Major again, not just plain doctor." "There must have been reason. The Government is alarmed?" "Yes. Our chief engineer Waldhorn--well, he's still a German-American, to put it mildly. Told me three times he had bought fifteen thousand dollars' worth of Liberty Bonds. I fear German-Americans buying bonds! And I know Waldhorn's a red Socialist--Bolshevik--if they make them." "If they doubt him, why don't they remove him?" "If he knew he was suspected--bang! up might go the dam. I hardly need say that you're to keep absolutely quiet about all this. I tell you because I can trust you. As for me, I'm a pretty busy little doctor right now--cook and the captain bold, and the mate of the Nancy brig. Within a week we'll have a telephone line strung up here. My men will be here to-morrow morning to begin work with the building. Suppose I had a chance to get you a woman companion out here. Would you be glad?" "Please don't jest." "Well, I've sent for your old friend, Annie Squires!" said she. "Annie! Why--no! She wrote to me----" "Yes, I know. And I wired her. She's coming on out. She has left Cleveland to-day. I'm going to meet her myself at the station, and bring her out. If she can cook she can get on the pay roll. Odd, how you two came to meet----" --"Why, cook?--work?--of course Annie could! Of course--she'd be happy. She's alone, like myself--but not married." "And she'll find you happily married, as she said in the letter. You are happily married? I beg your pardon, but he's--he's been considerate?" "More. Chivalrous. He wrote me at first that I might expect to find a 'chivalrous ranchman, of ample means.' That's true, isn't it?" For a long time he sat silent. "Yes," said he, "I believe I'll say that's true! "You think this Annie person can cook?" he added. "Of course! Oh, do you suppose she _really_ is coming?" "If I'm going to be a Major again I'm going to have plenary powers!"