The Gold Trail by Harold Bindloss Read Free Book Online

goldmine?"
    "Well," said the girl, with a twinkle in her eyes, "I came across two successful prospectors in Vancouver not long ago, and there was really nothing to suggest it in their appearance. So you didn't find the mine? Won't you tell me about your journey?"
    "It's quite a story. Won't the others miss you?"
    Ida turned toward him suddenly.
    "Don't you mean more than that?"
    "Well," admitted Weston slowly, "I think I did. Perhaps it was a liberty."
    "It was," said Ida, and, though she laughed, there was a little flash in her eyes. "Major Kinnaird and his wife are English, and it is quite possible that they would not be pleased to hear that I had come out to talk with you on the platform of a car. Still, in Canada we have our own notions as to what is fitting, and that I consider it perfectly natural that I should do so is quite sufficient for me. I do not defer to anybody's opinion as to how I should treat my friends. Now, unless you have any more convincing excuses, you may tell me about the search for the mine."
    Weston did so, and, for the mere pleasure of having her near him, he made rather a long tale of it. She stood where the vestibule of the car in front partly sheltered her from the rush of the cold night wind, swaying lightly to the jolting of the platform as the great train sped on among the pines. Still, her light dress which gleamed white in the moonlight fluttered about her and now and then flowed against her companion. The simple tale of stress and effort borne and made was one that went well with the snorting of the big locomotives toiling up the climbing track and the rhythmic roar of wheels flung back by primeval forest or towering wall of rock. The girl had imagination enough to realize it.
    "Oh," she said, "one likes to hear of such things."
    Then she noticed the gauntness of his bronzed face and how lean he was.
    "Still," she added, "it has left its mark on you. You failed to find the mine-it wasn't your fault-what are you going to do now?"
    "Some day," said Weston, "I shall go back and search again."
    He had made the resolution only that moment, but she saw the sudden glint in his eyes.
    "It was in the meanwhile I meant," she said.
    "I am going a little way up the track with my partner to a copper-mine."
    "Ah," said the girl reflectively, "I suppose you feel that you must take that man?"
    "What else could I do with him?"
    Ida's eyes softened curiously. After the scene at the station she fancied that she understood the responsibility that he had taken upon himself.
    "And suppose they don't want you at the mine?"
    "In that case we should go on again somewhere else."
    "Of course your partner, who can earn nothing, will go with you."
    Then she spoke almost sharply.
    "How much money have you in your joint possession?"
    "Three or four dollars," said Weston.
    Again she turned toward him with a flush on her face.
    "Now," she said, "I think you can disregard trivial conventionalities. Won't you let me lend you some?"
    "No," replied Weston quietly. "I shall not forget that you offered it, but I'm afraid it's quite out of the question."
    She knew that he meant it, and, though she greatly desired to lessen his difficulties, she was, for no reason that was very apparent at the moment, pleased with his answer. Then she changed the subject.
    "Can your partner cook?" she asked.
    "No," answered Weston, smiling, "he certainly can't. I and a good many more of the boys know that from experience."
    "Ah," said Ida reflectively, "that destroys another chance. Well, I am glad that I have seen you, but I think I must join Mrs. Kinnaird now."
    She held out the hand she had laid on the rail. It happened that as she did it the train swung around a curve. The car slanted sharply, and she swayed with the effort to keep her balance. In another moment Weston's arm was around her waist. Then there was empty blackness beneath them as the cars sped out upon a slender trestle, and the roar of a torrent came up from below through the