Attheendoftwo，hewasdrinkingandinopenrebellion。
Hehadlearnedtodetesthiswife。Herwastefulnessandcrueltyrevoltedhim。Theignoranceandthefatuouscon—
ceitwhichlaybehindhergrimacingmaskofslangandridiculehumiliatedhimsodeeplythathebecameabsolutelyreckless。Hergracewasonlyanuneasywriggle，herauda—
citywastheresultofinsolenceandenvy，andherwitwasrestlessspite。Asherpersonalmannerismsgrewmoreandmoreodioustohim，hebegantodullhisperceptionswithchampagne。Hehaditfortea，hedrankitwithdinner，andduringtheeveninghetookenoughtoinsurethathewouldbewellinsulatedwhenhegothome。Thisbehaviorspreadalarmamonghisfriends。Itwasscandalous，anditdidnotoccuramongbrewers。HewasviolatingtheNOBLESSEOBLIGE
ofhisguild。Hisfatherandhisfather’spartnerslookedalarmed。
WhenFred’smotherwenttohimandwithclaspedhandsentreatedanexplanation，hetoldherthattheonlytroublewasthathecouldn’tholdenoughwinetomakelifeendur—
able，sohewasgoingtogetoutfromunderandenlistinthenavy。Hedidn’twantanythingbuttheshirtonhisbackandcleansaltair。Hismothercouldlookout；hewasgoingtomakeascandal。
Mrs。OttoOttenburgwenttoKansasCitytoseeMr。
Beers，andhadthesatisfactionoftellinghimthathehadbroughtuphisdaughterlikeasavage，EINEUNGEBILDETE。AlltheOttenburgsandalltheBeers，andmanyoftheirfriends，weredrawnintothequarrel。Itwastopublicopinion，how—
everandnottohismother’sactivities，thatFredowedhispartialescapefrombondage。ThecosmopolitanbrewingworldofSt。Louishadconservativestandards。TheOtten—
burgs’friendswerenotpredisposedinfavoroftheplungingKansasCityset，andtheydislikedyoungFred’swifefrom
thedaythatshewasbroughtamongthem。Theyfoundherignorantandill—bredandinsufferablyimpertinent。WhentheybecameawareofhowmattersweregoingbetweenherandFred，theyomittednoopportunitytosnubher。YoungFredhadalwaysbeenpopular，andSt。Louispeopletookuphiscausewithwarmth。Eventheyoungermen，amongwhomMrs。Fredtriedtodraftafollowing，atfirstavoidedandthenignoredher。Herdefeatwassoconspicuous，herlifebecamesuchadesert，thatsheatlastconsentedtoacceptthehouseinSantaBarbarawhichMrs。OttoOtten—
burghadlongownedandcherished。Thisvilla，withitsluxuriantgardens，wasthepriceofFred’sfurlough。Hismotherwasonlytoogladtoofferitinhisbehalf。AssoonashiswifewasestablishedinCalifornia，Fredwastrans—
ferredfromSt。LouistoChicago。
AdivorcewastheonethingEdithwouldnever，never，givehim。Shetoldhimso，andshetoldhisfamilyso，andherfatherstoodbehindher。Shewouldenterintonoarrangementthatmighteventuallyleadtodivorce。Shehadinsultedherhusbandbeforeguestsandservants，hadscratchedhisface，thrownhand—mirrorsandhairbrushesandnail—scissorsathimoftenenough，butsheknewthatFredwashardlythefellowwhowouldgointocourtandofferthatsortofevidence。Inherbehaviorwithothermenshewasdiscreet。
AfterFredwenttoChicago，hismothervisitedhimoften，anddroppedawordtoheroldfriendsthere，whowerealreadykindlydisposedtowardtheyoungman。Theygossipedaslittleaswascompatiblewiththeinteresttheyfelt，undertooktomakelifeagreeableforFred，andtoldhisstoryonlywheretheyfeltitwoulddogood：togirlswhoseemedtofindtheyoungbrewerattractive。Sofar，hehadbehavedwell，andhadkeptoutofentanglements。
SincehewastransferredtoChicago，Fredhadbeenabroadseveraltimes，andhadfallenmoreandmoreintothewayofgoingaboutamongyoungartists，——peoplewith
whompersonalrelationswereincidental。Withwomen，andevengirls，whohadcareerstofollow，ayoungmanmighthavepleasantfriendshipswithoutbeingregardedasapro—
spectivesuitororlover。Amongartistshispositionwasnotirregular，becausewiththemhismarriageablenesswasnotanissue。Histastes，hisenthusiasm，andhisagreeablepersonalitymadehimwelcome。
WithTheaKronborghehadallowedhimselfmorelib—
ertythanheusuallydidinhisfriendshipsorgallantrieswithyoungartists，becausesheseemedtohimdistinctlynotthemarryingkind。Sheimpressedhimasequippedtobeanartist，andtobenothingelse；alreadydirected，con—
centrated，formedastomentalhabit。Hewasgenerousandsympathetic，andshewaslonelyandneededfriendship；
neededcheerfulness。Shehadnotmuchpowerofreachingouttowardusefulpeopleorusefulexperiences，didnotseeopportunities。Shehadnotactaboutgoingaftergoodpositionsorenlistingtheinterestofinfluentialpersons。
Sheantagonizedpeopleratherthanconciliatedthem。Hediscoveredatoncethatshehadamerryside，arobusthumorthatwasdeepandhearty，likeherlaugh，butitsleptmostofthetimeunderherowndoubtsandthedull—
nessofherlife。Shehadnotwhatiscalleda"senseofhumor。"Thatis，shehadnointellectualhumor；nopowertoenjoytheabsurditiesofpeople，norelishoftheirpreten—
tiousnessandinconsistencies——whichonlydepressedher。
Butherjoviality，Fredfelt，wasanasset，andoughttobedeveloped。Hediscoveredthatshewasmorereceptiveandmoreeffectiveunderapleasantstimulusthanshewasunderthegraygrindwhichsheconsideredhersalvation。
ShewasstillMethodistenoughtobelievethatifathingwerehardandirksome，itmustbegoodforher。Andyet，whatevershedidwellwasspontaneous。Undertheleastglowofexcitement，asatMrs。Nathanmeyer’s，hehadseentheapprehensive，frowningdrudgeofBowers’sstudioflashintoaresourcefulandconsciouslybeautifulwoman。
HisinterestinTheawasserious，almostfromthefirst，andsosincerethathefeltnodistrustofhimself。Hebe—
lievedthatheknewagreatdealmoreaboutherpossibili—
tiesthanBowersknew，andhelikedtothinkthathehadgivenherastrongerholdonlife。Shehadneverseenher—
selforknownherselfasshedidatMrs。Nathanmeyer’smusicalevenings。Shehadbeenadifferentgirleversince。
Hehadnotanticipatedthatshewouldgrowmorefondofhimthanhisimmediateusefulnesswarranted。Hethoughtheknewthewaysofartists，and，ashesaid，shemusthavebeen"atitfromhercradle。"Hehadimagined，perhaps，butneverreallybelieved，thathewouldfindherwaitingforhimsometimeashefoundherwaitingonthedayhereachedtheBiltmerranch。Oncehefoundherso——
well，hedidnotpretendtobeanythingmoreorlessthanareasonablywell—intentionedyoungman。Alovesickgirloraflirtatiouswomanhecouldhavehandledeasilyenough。Butapersonalitylikethat，unconsciouslyreveal—
ingitselfforthefirsttimeundertheexaltationofaper—
sonalfeeling，——whatcouldonedobutwatchit？Asheusedtosaytohimself，inrecklessmomentsbackthereinthecanyon，"Youcan’tputoutasunrise。"Hehadtowatchit，andthenhehadtoshareit。
Besides，washereallygoingtodoheranyharm？TheLordknewhewouldmarryherifhecould！Marriagewouldbeanincident，notanendwithher；hewassureofthat。
Ifitwerenothe，itwouldbesomeoneelse；someonewhowouldbeaweightaboutherneck，probably；whowouldholdherbackandbeatherdownanddivertherfromthefirstplungeforwhichhefeltshewasgatheringallherener—
gies。Hemeanttohelpher，andhecouldnotthinkofanothermanwhowould。Hewentoverhisunmarriedfriends，EastandWest，andhecouldnotthinkofonewhowouldknowwhatshewasdrivingat——orcare。Thecleveroneswereselfish，thekindlyoneswerestupid。
"Damnit，ifshe’sgoingtofallinlovewithsomebody，it
hadbetterbemethananyoftheothers——ofthesortshe’dfind。Gethertiedupwithsomeconceitedasswho’dtrytomakeherover，trainherlikeapuppy！Giveoneof’emabignaturelikethat，andhe’dbehorrified。Hewouldn’tshowhisfaceintheclubsuntilhe’dgoneafterherandcombedherdowntoconformtosomefoolideainhisownhead——puttherebysomeotherwoman，too，hisfirstsweetheartorhisgrandmotheroramaidenaunt。Atleast，Iunderstandher。Iknowwhatsheneedsandwhereshe’sbound，andImeantoseethatshehasafightingchance。"
Hisownconductlookedcrooked，headmitted；butheaskedhimselfwhether，betweenmenandwomen，allwayswerenotmoreorlesscrooked。Hebelievedthosewhicharecalledstraightwerethemostdangerousofall。Theyseemedtohim，forthemostpart，toliebetweenwindowlessstonewalls，andtheirrectitudehadbeenachievedattheexpenseoflightandair。Intheirunquestionedregularitylurkedeverysortofhumancrueltyandmeanness，andeverykindofhumiliationandsuffering。Hewouldratherhaveanywomanhecaredforwoundedthancrushed。Hewoulddeceivehernotonce，hetoldhimselffiercely，butahundredtimes，tokeepherfree。
WhenFredwentbacktotheobservationcaratoneo’clock，aftertheluncheoncall，itwasempty，andhefoundTheaaloneontheplatform。Sheputoutherhand，andmethiseyes。
"It’sasIsaid。Thingshaveclosedbehindme。Ican’tgoback，soIamgoingon——toMexico？"Sheliftedherfacewithaneager，questioningsmile。
Fredmetitwithasinkingheart。Hadhereallyhopedshewouldgivehimanotheranswer？Hewouldhavegivenprettymuchanything——Butthere，thatdidnogood。Hecouldgiveonlywhathehad。Thingswerenevercompleteinthisworld；youhadtosnatchatthemastheycameorgo
without。Nobodycouldlookintoherfaceanddrawback，nobodywhohadanycourage。Shehadcourageenoughforanything——lookathermouthandchinandeyes！Wherediditcomefrom，thatlight？Howcouldaface，afamiliarface，becomesothepictureofhope，bepaintedwiththeverycolorsofyouth’sexaltation？Shewasright；shewasnotoneofthosewhodrawback。Somepeoplegetonbyavoidingdangers，othersbyridingthroughthem。
Theystoodbytherailinglookingbackatthesandlevels，bothfeelingthatthetrainwassteamingaheadveryfast。
Fred’smindwasaconfusionofimagesandideas。Onlytwothingswerecleartohim：theforceofherdetermination，andthebeliefthat，handicappedashewas，hecoulddobetterbyherthananothermanwoulddo。Heknewhewouldalwaysrememberher，standingtherewiththatex—
pectant，forward—lookingsmile，enoughtoturnthefutureintosummer。
EndofPartIV
PARTV
DR。ARCHIE’SVENTURE
I
DR。HOWARDARCHIEhadcomedowntoDenverforameetingofthestockholdersintheSanFelipesilvermine。Itwasnotabsolutelynecessaryforhimtocome，buthehadnoverypressingcasesathome。WinterwasclosingdowninMoonstone，andhedreadedthedull—
nessofit。Onthe10thdayofJanuary，therefore，hewasregisteredattheBrownPalaceHotel。Onthemorningofthe11thhecamedowntobreakfasttofindthestreetswhiteandtheairthickwithsnow。Awildnorthwesterwasblowingdownfromthemountains，oneofthosebeautifulstormsthatwrapDenverindry，furrysnow，andmakethecityaloadstonetothousandsofmeninthemountainsandontheplains。Thebrakemenoutontheirbox—cars，theminersupintheirdiggings，thelonelyhomesteadersinthesandhillsofYuccaandKitCarsonCounties，begintothinkofDenver，muffledinsnow，fulloffoodanddrinkandgoodcheer，andtoyearnforherwiththatadmirationwhichmakesher，morethanotherAmericancities，anobjectofsentiment。
HowardArchiewasgladhehadgotinbeforethestormcame。Hefeltascheerfulasifhehadreceivedalegacythatmorning，andhegreetedtheclerkwithevengreaterfriendlinessthanusualwhenhestoppedatthedeskforhismail。Inthedining—roomhefoundseveraloldfriendsseatedhereandtherebeforesubstantialbreakfasts：cattle—
menandminingengineersfromoddcornersoftheState，alllookingfreshandwellpleasedwiththemselves。Hehad
awordwithoneandanotherbeforehesatdownatthelittletablebyawindow，wheretheAustrianheadwaiterstoodattentivelybehindachair。Afterhisbreakfastwasputbeforehim，thedoctorbegantorunoverhisletters。TherewasonedirectedinTheaKronborg’shandwriting，for—
wardedfromMoonstone。Hesawwithastonishment，asheputanotherlumpofsugarintohiscup，thatthisletterboreaNewYorkpostmark。HehadknownthatTheawasinMexico，travelingwithsomeChicagopeople，butNewYork，toaDenverman，seemsmuchfartherawaythanMexicoCity。Heputtheletterbehindhisplate，uprightagainstthestemofhiswatergoblet，andlookedatitthoughtfullywhilehedrankhissecondcupofcoffee。HehadbeenalittleanxiousaboutThea；shehadnotwrittentohimforalongwhile。
Ashenevergotgoodcoffeeathome，thedoctoralwaysdrankthreecupsforbreakfastwhenhewasinDenver。
Oscarknewjustwhentobringhimasecondpot，freshandsmoking。"Andmorecream，Oscar，please。YouknowI
likelotsofcream，"thedoctormurmured，asheopenedthesquareenvelope，markedintheupperright—handcor—
ner，"EverettHouse，UnionSquare。"Thetextoftheletterwasasfollows：——
DEARDOCTORARCHIE：——
Ihavenotwrittentoyouforalongtime，butithasnotbeenunintentional。Icouldnotwriteyoufrankly，andsoIwouldnotwriteatall。Icanbefrankwithyounow，butnotbyletter。Itisagreatdealtoask，butIwonderifyoucouldcometoNewYorktohelpmeout？Ihavegotintodifficulties，andIneedyouradvice。Ineedyourfriendship。
IamafraidImustevenaskyoutolendmemoney，ifyoucanwithoutseriousinconvenience。IhavetogotoGer—
manytostudy，anditcan’tbeputoffanylonger。Myvoiceisready。Needlesstosay，Idon’twantanywordofthistoreachmyfamily。TheyarethelastpeopleIwouldturnto，
thoughIlovemymotherdearly。Ifyoucancome，pleasetelegraphmeatthishotel。Don’tdespairofme。I’llmakeituptoyouyet。
Youroldfriend，THEAKRONBORG。
Thisinabold，jaggedhandwritingwithaGothicturntotheletters，——somethingbetweenahighlysophisticatedhandandaveryunsophisticatedone，——notintheleastsmoothorflowing。
Thedoctorbitofftheendofacigarnervouslyandreadtheletterthroughagain，fumblingdistractedlyinhispock—
etsformatches，whilethewaiterkepttryingtocallhisattentiontotheboxhehadjustplacedbeforehim。AtlastOscarcameout，asiftheideahadjuststruckhim，"Matches，sir？"
"Yes，thankyou。"Thedoctorslippedacoinintohispalmandrose，crumplingThea’sletterinhishandandthrustingtheothersintohispocketunopened。Hewentbacktothedeskinthelobbyandbeckonedtotheclerk，uponwhosekindnesshethrewhimselfapologetically。
"Harry，I’vegottopulloutunexpectedly。CalluptheBurlington，willyou，andaskthemtoroutemetoNewYorkthequickestway，andtoletusknow。AskforthehourI’llgetin。Ihavetowire。"
"Certainly，Dr。Archie。Haveitforyouinaminute。"
Theyoungman’spallid，clean—scrapedfacewasallsympa—
theticinterestashereachedforthetelephone。Dr。Archieputouthishandandstoppedhim。
"Waitaminute。Tellme，first，isCaptainHarrisdownyet？"
"No，sir。TheCaptainhasn’tcomedownyetthismorning。"
"I’llwaithereforhim。IfIdon’thappentocatchhim，nailhimandgetme。Thankyou，Harry。"
Thedoctorspokegratefullyandturnedaway。Hebegan
topacethelobby，hishandsbehindhim，watchingthebronzeelevatordoorslikeahawk。AtlastCaptainHarrisissuedfromoneofthem，tallandimposing，wearingaStetsonandfiercemustaches，afurcoatonhisarm，asoli—
taireglitteringuponhislittlefingerandanotherinhisblacksatinascot。Hewasoneofthegrandoldbluffersofthosegoodolddays。Asgullibleasaschoolboy，hehadmanaged，withhissharpeyeandknowingairandtwistedblondmustaches，topasshimselfoffforanastutefinancier，andtheDenverpapersrespectfullyreferredtohimastheRothschildofCrippleCreek。
Dr。ArchiestoppedtheCaptainonhiswaytobreakfast。
"Mustseeyouaminute，Captain。Can’twait。WanttosellyousomesharesintheSanFelipe。Gottoraisemoney。"
TheCaptaingrandlybestowedhishatuponaneagerporterwhohadalreadyliftedhisfurcoattenderlyfromhisarmandstoodnursingit。Inremovinghishat，theCap—
tainexposedabald，flusheddome，thatchedabouttheearswithyellowishgrayhair。"Badtimetosell，doctor。YouwanttoholdontoSanFelipe，andbuymore。Whathaveyougottoraise？"
"Oh，notagreatsum。Fiveorsixthousand。I’vebeenbuyingupcloseandhaverunshort。"
"Isee，Isee。Well，doctor，you’llhavetoletmegetthroughthatdoor。Iwasoutlastnight，andI’mgoingtogetmybacon，ifyouloseyourmine。"HeclappedArchieontheshoulderandpushedhimalonginfrontofhim。
"Comeaheadwithme，andwe’lltalkbusiness。"
Dr。ArchieattendedtheCaptainandwaitedwhilehegavehisorder，takingtheseattheoldpromoterindi—
cated。
"Now，sir，"theCaptainturnedtohim，"youdon’twanttosellanything。YoumustbeundertheimpressionthatI’moneofthesedamnedNewEnglandsharksthatgettheirpoundoffleshoffthewidowandorphan。Ifyou’rea
littleshort，signanoteandI’llwriteacheck。That’sthewaygentlemendobusiness。IfyouwanttoputupsomeSanFelipeascollateral，lethergo，butIshan’ttouchashareofit。Pensandink，please，Oscar，"——heliftedalargeforefingertotheAustrian。
TheCaptaintookouthischeckbookandabookofblanknotes，andadjustedhisnose—nippers。HewroteafewwordsinonebookandArchiewroteafewintheother。Thentheyeachtoreacrossperforationsandexchangedslipsofpaper。
"That’stheway。Savesofficerent，"theCaptaincom—
mentedwithsatisfaction，returningthebookstohispocket。
"Andnow，Archie，whereareyouoffto？"
"GottogoEastto—night。AdealwaitingformeinNewYork。"Dr。Archierose。
TheCaptain’sfacebrightenedashesawOscarapproach—
ingwithatray，andhebegantuckingthecornerofhisnapkininsidehiscollar，overhisascot。"Don’tletthemunloadanythingonyoubackthere，doctor，"hesaidgen—
ially，"anddon’tletthemrelieveyouofanything，either。
Don’tletthemgetanyCripplestuffoffyou。Wecanman—
ageourownsilverouthere，andwe’regoingtotakeitoutbytheton，sir！"
Thedoctorleftthedining—room，andafteranothercon—
sultationwiththeclerk，hewrotehisfirsttelegramtoThea：——
MissTheaKronborg，EverettHouse，NewYork。
Willcallatyourhoteleleveno’clockFridaymorning。
Gladtocome。Thankyou。
ARCHIE
Hestoodandheardthemessageactuallyclickedoffonthewire，withthefeelingthatshewashearingtheclickattheotherend。Thenhesatdowninthelobbyandwrotea
notetohiswifeandonetotheotherdoctorinMoonstone。
Whenheatlastissuedoutintothestorm，itwaswithafeelingofelationratherthanofanxiety。Whateverwaswrong，hecouldmakeitright。Herletterhadpracticallysaidso。
Hetrampedaboutthesnowystreets，fromthebanktotheUnionStation，whereheshovedhismoneyunderthegratingoftheticketwindowasifhecouldnotgetridofitfastenough。HehadneverbeeninNewYork，neverbeenfarthereastthanBuffalo。"That’sratherashame，"hereflectedboyishlyasheputthelongticketsinhispocket，"foramannearlyfortyyearsold。"However，hethoughtashewalkeduptowardtheclub，hewasonthewholegladthathisfirsttriphadahumaninterest，thathewasgoingforsomething，andbecausehewaswanted。Helovedholi—
days。HefeltasifheweregoingtoGermanyhimself。
"Queer，"——hewentoveritwiththesnowblowinginhisface，——"butthatsortofthingismoreinterestingthanminesandmakingyourdailybread。It’sworthpayingouttobeinonit，——forafellowlikeme。Andwhenit’sThea——Oh，Ibackher！"helaughedaloudasheburstinatthedooroftheAthleticClub，powderedwithsnow。
ArchiesatdownbeforetheNewYorkpapersandranovertheadvertisementsofhotels，buthewastoorestlesstoread。Probablyhehadbettergetanewovercoat，andhewasnotsureabouttheshapeofhiscollars。"Idon’twanttolookdifferenttoherfromeverybodyelsethere，"
hemused。"IguessI’llgodownandhaveVanlookmeover。He’llputmeright。"
Soheplungedoutintothesnowagainandstartedforhistailor’s。Whenhepassedaflorist’sshophestoppedandlookedinatthewindow，smiling；hownaturallypleasantthingsrecalledoneanother。Atthetailor’shekeptwhis—
tling，"Flowgently，SweetAfton，"whileVanDusenad—
visedhim，untilthatresourcefultailorandhaberdasherexclaimed，"Youmusthaveadatebackthere，doctor；you
behavelikeabridegroom，"andmadehimrememberthathewasn’tone。
Beforehelethimgo，VanputhisfingerontheMasonicpininhisclient’slapel。"Mustn’twearthat，doctor。Verybadformbackthere。"
II
FREDOTTENBURG，smartlydressedfortheafter—
noon，withalongblackcoatandgaiterswassittinginthedustyparloroftheEverettHouse。Hismannerwasnotinaccordwithhispersonalfreshness，thegoodlinesofhisclothes，andtheshiningsmoothnessofhishair。Hisattitudewasoneofdeepdejection，andhisface，thoughithadthecool，unimpeachablefairnesspossibleonlytoaveryblondyoungman，wasbynomeanshappy。Apageshuffledintotheroomandlookedabout。Whenhemadeoutthedarkfigureinashadowycorner，tracingoverthecarpetpatternwithacane，hedroned，"Theladysaysyoucancomeup，sir。"
Fredpickeduphishatandglovesandfollowedthecrea—
ture，whoseemedanagedboyinuniform，throughdarkcorridorsthatsmelledofoldcarpets。ThepageknockedatthedoorofThea’ssitting—room，andthenwanderedaway。Theacametothedoorwithatelegraminherhand。
SheaskedOttenburgtocomeinandpointedtooneoftheclumsy，sullen—lookingchairsthatwereasthickastheywerehigh。Theroomwasbrownwithtime，darkinspiteoftwowindowsthatopenedonUnionSquare，withdullcurtainsandcarpet，andheavy，respectable—lookingfurni—
tureinsombercolors。Theplacewassavedfromutterdis—
malnessbyacoalfireundertheblackmarblemantelpiece，——brilliantlyreflectedinalongmirrorthathungbetweenthetwowindows。ThiswasthefirsttimeFredhadseentheroom，andhetookitinquickly，asheputdownhishatandgloves。
Theaseatedherselfatthewalnutwriting—desk，stillholdingtheslipofyellowpaper。"Dr。Archieiscoming，"
shesaid。"HewillbehereFridaymorning。"