Lucky Banks shook his head.  “Up to this year,” he said and smiled grimly, “I couldn’t have made the trip without beating my way, and I guess if I went to some of those senators now and escaped being put down for an ex-convict, they’d say I was engineering a trust.  They’d turn another key on Alaska to keep me out.”

He wheeled to tramp down the lobby, then stopped.  Annabel had entered.  Annabel arrayed in a new, imported tailored suit of excellent cloth, in a shade of Copenhagen blue, and a chic hat of blue beaver trimmed with paradise.  Instantly the mining man’s indignation cooled.  He put aside Alaska’s wrongs and hurried, beaming, to meet his wife.  “Why, you bought blue,” he said with pleased surprise.  “And you can wear it, my, yes, about as well as pink.”

Annabel smiled with the little ironical curl of the lip that showed plainly her good sense held her steady, on the crest of that high wave whereon it had been fortune’s freak to raise her.  “Lucile showed me a place, on the next floor of the store, where I could get the tan taken off my face while I was waiting for alterations to my suit.  They did it with a sort of cold cream and hot water.  There’s just a streak left around my neck, and I can cover that with the necklace.”  She paused then added with a gentle conciliation creeping through her confidential tone:  “I am going to wear the pink chiffon to-night to hear Tarquina.  Lucile says it’s all right for a box party, opening night.  I like her real well.  I asked her to go with us, and she’s coming early, in time for dinner, at seven.”

“I thought you’d make a team,” replied Banks, delighted.  “And I’m glad you asked her, my, yes.  It would have been lonesome sitting by ourselves ’mongst the empty chairs.”

They were walking towards the elevator, and Daniels, who had learned from the clerk that the important looking stranger who had seemed so interested in Banks’ information, was the head of the new coal commission, going north for investigation, stopped the prospector to say good-by.

“I want to thank you for that interview, Mr. Banks,” he said frankly.  “I’ve learned more about Alaska from you in fifteen minutes than I had put together in five years.”

“You are welcome, so’s you get it in straight.  But,”—­and the little man drew himself proudly erect,—­“I want to make you acquainted with Mrs. Banks, Mr. Daniels.”

“I am awfully glad to meet you, Mrs. Banks,” said Jimmie cordially, offering his hand.  “I understand you are from Hesperides Vale, and I grew up over there in the Columbia desert.  It’s almost like seeing friends from home.”

“Likely,” Banks began, but his glance moved from the reporter to his wife and he repeated less certainly, “likely we could get him to take one of those chairs off our hands.”

Annabel’s humor rose to her eyes.  “He’s hired a box for Carmen to-night; they were out of seats in the divans, and it worries him because our party is so small.”