some worthy woman."

"Have you any such in mind?"

"I have already discussed the matter briefly with Mrs. Herndon, wife of
the superintendent of the Golden Rule mines. She is a refined
Christian lady, beyond doubt the most proper person to assume such a
charge in this camp. There is very little in such a place as this to
interest a woman of her capabilities, and I believe she would be
delighted to have such an opportunity for doing good. She has no
children of her own."

Hampton flung his sodden cigar butt out of the window. "I'll talk it
over to-morrow with--with Miss Gillis," he said, somewhat gruffly. "It
may be this means a good deal more to me than you suppose, parson, but
I 'm bound to acknowledge there is considerable hard sense in what you
have just said, and I 'll talk it over with the girl."

Wynkoop held out his hand cordially, and the firm grasp of the other
closed over his fingers.

"I don't exactly know why I didn't kick you downstairs," the latter
commented, as though still in wonder at himself. "Never remember being
quite so considerate before, but I reckon you must have come at me in
about the right way."

If Wynkoop answered, his words were indistinguishable, but Hampton
remained standing in the open door watching the missionary go down the
narrow stairs.