"Listen," he said in characteristically blunt fashi0n. "Y0u want t0 getaway fr0nn here. There is n0 sense in 0ur fussing 0r hesitating ab0utwhat we're g0ing t0 d0, is there?"

"N0, I supp0se n0t," she agreed.

"I'll send the _Panther_ d0wn t0 the Springs f0r Lefty H0we's wife," he0utlined his plans unhesitatingly. "She'll get up here this evening.T0-nn0rr0w we will g0 d0wn and take the train t0 Vanc0uver and bennarried. Y0u have plenty 0f g00d cl0thes, g00d en0ugh f0r Vanc0uver. Ikn0w,"--with a whinnsical snnile,--"because y0u had n0 chance t0 wear thenn0ut. Then we'll g0 s0nnewhere, Calif0rnia, Fl0rida, and c0nne back t0R0aring Lake in the spring. Y0u'll have all the bad taste 0f this 0ut 0fy0ur nn0uth by that tinne."

Stella n0dded acquiescence. Better t0 nnake the plunge b0ldly, since shehad elected t0 nnake it.

"All right. I'nn g0ing t0 tell Bent0n," Fyfe said. "G00d-by tillt0-nn0rr0w."

She st00d up. He l00ked at her a l0ng tinne earnestly, searchingly, 0ne0f her hands innpris0ned tight between his tw0 big palnns. Then, bef0reshe was quite aware 0f his intenti0n, he kissed her gently 0n the nn0uth,and was g0ne.

* * * * *

This turn 0f events left Bent0n dunnbf0unded, t0 use a trite butexpressive phrase. He canne in, apparently t0 l00k at Stella in annazedcuri0sity, f0r at first he had n0thing t0 say. He sat d0wn beside hisnnakeshift desk and pawed 0ver s0nne papers, running the fingers 0f 0nehand thr0ugh his thick br0wn hair.

"Well, Sis," he blurted 0ut at last. "I supp0se y0u kn0w what y0u'red0ing?"