"Thanks! I don't claim much wisdom and I am sometimes rash. But perhaps
we had better stick to Sir James's offer. Why does he make it now, after
standing off when I needed help some years since?"

"We'll take the offer first," Allott agreed. "Sir James had not been
knighted and pulled off the big business combine then. He hadn't as much
influence, and perhaps wanted to see what you could do. I expect he was
surprised when you got and kept the mining job in Canada. Anyhow, you're
his namesake and nearest relative. My wife, you know, comes next."

"He left my father alone in his trouble," said Thirlwell grimly. "I
wonder why they gave him his title. There were things done when the
combine was made the shareholders didn't know, besides injustices to
the staffs. You see, I had friends--"

"What has that to do with you? He offers you a good post, with a hint
about favors to come."

"The post is good," Thirlwell agreed, with a thoughtful look. "In a way,
I'd have been glad to take it; but I can't very well."

"Your engagement at the little wild-cat mine is an obstacle? After all,
there are other engineers in Canada; I don't suppose your employers
would suffer much inconvenience if you gave up the job."

"There's a year yet to go, besides an understanding that I'd stay until
we got down to the deep vein."

"For very small pay? Much less than you're now offered, and with no