After this the party broke up and Scott gently pushed George out when he saw that Agatha was waiting while Thirlwell picked up some papers he had got from the secretary. When the others had gone, she gave him her hand and her face flushed.

"I wonder whether you know how much you have helped?"

Thirlwell kept her hand. "I got some satisfaction from beating your antagonist."

"But you wanted to help me?"

"I did," said Thirlwell, with a steady look. "I was anxious to do something that would make you happy."

Agatha turned her head. "Yet you once refused; the morning after we found the lode--"

"Ah," said Thirlwell, "I fought a pretty hard battle then! But, you see, I was a poor engineer, and you--"

She looked up with a smile and blushed. "Do you think I didn't _know_?

But you were foolish; ridiculously stupid!"

Thirlwell took her other hand. "Perhaps I was, but I thought I was right. Things, however, are different now--"

He drew her to him, but she resisted. "Wait! If things had not been different, would your resolution have held out?"

"No," said Thirlwell, "I'm afraid not; I'm not as strong as I imagined."

"Oh!" she said, "perhaps that's the nicest thing I have heard you say!

But you really didn't often try to be very nice."

"I was afraid I might say too much if I began."

"No!" she protested, as his grasp got firmer. "There's something else!

How long have you really--"

"How long have I wanted you? Well, I think I began to feel the need a day or two after I met you at the summer hotel."

Agatha blushed, but smiled with shining eyes.

"Then if the need hasn't gone, you can take me."

Thirlwell said nothing, but took her in his arms.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

ALTON OF SOMASCO

LORIMER OF THE NORTHWEST

THURSTON OF ORCHARD VALLEY

WINSTON OF THE PRAIRIE

THE GOLD TRAIL

SYDNEY CARTERET, RANCHER

A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP

VANE OF THE TIMBERLANDS

THE LONG PORTAGE

RANCHING FOR SYLVIA

PRESCOTT OF SASKATCHEWAN

THE DUST OF CONFLICT

THE GREATER POWER

MASTERS OF THE WHEATLANDS

DELILAH OF THE SNOWS

BY RIGHT OF PURCHASE

THE CATTLE BARON'S DAUGHTER

THRICE ARMED

FOR JACINTA

THE INTRIGUERS

THE LEAGUE OF THE LEOPARD

FOR THE ALLISON HONOR

THE SECRET OF THE REEF

HARDING OF ALLENWOOD

THE COAST OF ADVENTURE

JOHNSTONE OF THE BORDER

BRANDON OF THE ENGINEERS

CARMEN'S MESSENGER