hadn't spent my money trying to break fresh land, I wouldn't have been
so deep in debt."

"And you'd have had more time to loaf about the settlement?"

"On the whole, I don't think that's kind. If I hadn't come to the
settlement, I wouldn't have seen you, and that's about the only comfort
I have left."

A touch of color crept into Sadie's face, but her thoughtful look did
not change.

"Well," she said, "I'd surely have liked you to make good, and don't
know that we mightn't have got the mortgage held over; but it wouldn't
have been much use. You'd have started again and then got tired and not
have stayed with it." She spread out her hands impatiently. "That's the
kind of man you are!"

"I'm afraid it's true," Charnock admitted. "But I hope you like me all
the same."

Sadie was silent for a few moments, but her color was higher and
Charnock mused. He supposed she meant she could have persuaded her
father to come to his help, and it looked as if she well knew his
failings. Still he felt rather amused than resentful.

"We'll let that go," she resumed. "I want you to quit joking and listen.
We're going to have a boom at the settlement as soon as the railroad's
opened, and I and the old man can hardly manage the store and hotel.
We've got to have help; somebody the boys like and we can trust. Well,