“I am in the mining business myself, in a small way,” he rejoined. “Last year I bought a property in Pinal County on speculation. I am going up to visit it now for the first time. I do not really need to go. In fact I shall probably do more harm than good. I have a manager up there who has accomplished wonders. He has made the mine pay in six months after he took control. As far as I can learn, he has done practically everything himself, from mining the ore to putting it on the cars. I bought the mine at a big risk, and now it is about the most satisfactory investment that I own.” “I wish that I had such a man to put in charge of Quentin. When I am not there the whole plant seems to go to pieces.” “Quentin!” exclaimed Radlett in surprise. “Is that the name of your property?” “It is,” said Mr. Cameron. “Why? Had you ever heard of it?” Radlett opened his lips to speak; but the arrival of the tea turned the subject of conversation for the moment. As he watched Jean pouring the tea all thoughts of mines and business vanished from Radlett’s mind. He wondered how he had ever existed throughout the years in which he had not seen her. While Jean Cameron talked to Radlett, she glanced at him over her teacup with that interest which a girl naturally bestows upon a man who might have been a part of her life had she so willed it. In the past year the standards by which she judged men had changed considerably. She had much more regard for the qualities of steadiness and determination which Baird possessed than she had felt at the time when she refused him. From her widened experiences she had learned that ability without reliability was useless. Perhaps, too, now that disappointment in her new surroundings had set in, she looked back with more tenderness upon those who had peopled her life in the East. The talk ranged over many scenes and people familiar to them all, then gradually drifted to the plans of each for the future. Baird’s mind had been working fast. Seeing Jean for an hour had made him wish to see her for many more hours, and by the time that he had finished his second cup of tea, he had evolved a plan by which he hoped to achieve that end. If he could persuade Mr. Cameron, when on his way to Quentin, to stop over at Kay, and to make an expert report on the property, it would enable him to have at least a week more with Jean. Turning to Mr. Cameron, he approached him on the subject. “I wish very much that I could persuade you to stop over and examine my property for me. If you had the time I should greatly value your professional opinion.” “Where is your mine situated?” “At Kay,” answered Radlett. “I think it is on the direct route to Quentin.” “So you are the man who bought that property. I had not heard who owned it.” “Yes,” said Baird. “Now do you think that you could possibly spare four or fives days to investigate the place for me?”