“Yes, yes—­I know.  I thought I could give you up, but I didn’t realize till you had gone how I wanted you.  Oh, it’s been a torture to me every day for the past two years.”  There was no semblance now to the cold creature she had appeared upon entering the gambling-hall.  She spoke rapidly, her whole body tense with emotion, her voice shaken with passion.  “I’ve seen men and men and men, and they’ve loved me, but I never cared for anybody in the world till I saw you.  They ran after me, but you were cold.  You made me come to you.  Perhaps that was it.  Anyhow, I can’t stand it.  I’ll give up everything—­I’ll do anything just to be where you are.  What do you think of a woman who will beg?  Oh, I’ve lost my pride—­I’m a fool—­a fool—­but I can’t help it.”

“I’m sorry you feel this way,” said Glenister.  “It isn’t my fault, and it isn’t of any use.”

For an instant she stood quivering, while the light died out of her face; then, with a characteristic change, she smiled till the dimples laughed in her cheeks.  She sank upon a seat beside him and pulled together the curtains, shutting out the sight below.

“Very well”—­then she put his hand to her cheek and cuddled it.  “I’m glad to see you just the same, and you can’t keep me from loving you.”

With his other hand he smoothed her hair, while, unknown to him and beneath her lightness, she shrank and quivered at his touch like a Barbary steed under the whip.

“Things are very bad with me,” he said.  “We’ve had our mine jumped.”

“Bah!  You know what to do.  You aren’t a cripple—­you’ve got five fingers on your gun hand.”

“That’s it!  They all tell me that—­all the old-timers; but I don’t know what to do.  I thought I did—­but I don’t.  The law has come into this country and I’ve tried to meet it half-way.  They jumped us and put in a receiver—­a big man—­by the name of McNamara.  Dex wasn’t there and I let them do it.  When the old man learned of it he nearly went crazy.  We had our first quarrel.  He thought I was afraid—­”

“Not he,” said the girl.  “I know him and he knows you.”

“That was a week ago.  We’ve hired the best lawyer in Nome—­Bill Wheaton—­and we’ve tried to have the injunction removed.  We’ve offered bond in any sum, but the Judge refuses to accept it.  We’ve argued for leave to appeal, but he won’t give us the right.  The more I look into it the worse it seems, for the court wasn’t convened in accordance with law, we weren’t notified to appear in our own behalf, we weren’t allowed a chance to argue our own case--nothing.  They simply slapped on a receiver, and now they refuse to allow us redress.  From a legal stand-point, it’s appalling, I’m told—­but what’s to be done?  What’s the game?  That’s the thing.  What are they up to?  I’m nearly out of my mind, for it’s all my fault.  I didn’t think it meant anything like this or I’d have made a fight for possession and stood them off at least.  As it is, my partner’s sore and he’s gone to drinking—­first time in twelve years.  He says I gave the claim away, and now it’s up to me and the Almighty to get it back.  If he gets full he’ll drive a four-horse wagon into some church, or go up and pick the Judge to pieces with his fingers to see what makes him go round.”