"  You  make  me  want  to  kiss  you,  Alan,  but — "

He  did  not  let  her  finish.  Putting  his  arm  around
her,  he  drew  her  close  to  him  and  kissed  her  on  the
lips.  "Now,  darling,"  he  said,  "you  are  mine."

"Yes,  I  am  yours,  Alan."

As  they  were  nearing  her  house  he  told  her  that
Wilson  had  agents  out  secretly  buying  land,  and  that
she  must  not  allow  her  father  to  dispose  of  his  tim
bered  interests  until  it  was  decided  whether  the  rail
road  would  be  built.
She  promised  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  Colonel's  trans
actions  and  do  all  she  could  to  prevent  him  from  taking

282


Abner   Daniel

a  false  step.  "You  may  not  know  it,"  she  said,  "but
I'm  his  chief  adviser.  He'll  be  apt  to  mention  any  offer
he  gets  to  me."

"Well,  don't  tell  him  about  the  railroad  unless  you
have  to,"  he  said,  in  parting  with  her  at  the  gate.  "  But
it  would  be  glorious  to  have  him  profit  by  our  scheme,
and  I  think  he  will."

"We  are  going  to  hope  for  success,  anyway,  aren't
we?"  she  said,  leaning  over  the  gate.  "  I  have  believed
in  you  so  much  that  I  feel  almost  sure  you  are  to  be
rewarded."

"Miller  thinks  the  chances  are  good,"  he  told  her,
"  but  father  is  afraid  those  men  over  there  will  do  their
best  to  ruin  the  whole  thing."

Dolly  waved  her  handkerchief  to  some  one  at  a  win
dow  of  the  house.  "It's  mother,"  she  said.  "She's
shaking  her  finger  at  me."

"I  reckon  she's  mad  at  me,"  said  Alan,  disconso
lately.
