"Very little interest taken in mineral claims, no inquiries for ranching properties." Alice Deringham turned, and saw the girl's fingers flittering across the paper, but her face was still hidden and the monotonous voice continued, "We made a few advances during the last week or two." The other passengers had gone out of the saloon, and it was very quiet save for the soft flow of words and rattle of the pencil, when Deringham once more unfolded the telegram.
"I am afraid it is going hardly with the man," he said suggestively.
"'My partner met with accident--his condition is critical.' The message left Somasco yesterday." There was a rustle at the adjoining table, and the girl's pencil fell to the floor.
"Will you wait a moment, please ?" a voice said, and the dictation broke off abruptly, while when the girl rose Alice Deringham found herself suddenly confronted with Miss Townshead.

Deringham, who stood up, made her a little decorous inclination.
"I am pleased to see you again," he said.
The speech was apparently lost upon the girl, who did not seem to notice his daughter's greeting.
"I could not avoid hearing a few words of yours," she said.

"Mr.
Alton--or his partner--is seriously ill." Deringham handed her the telegram, and stood watching her curiously while she read it.

He saw her lips set a trifle, and a slight lowering of her eyes, but though the girl seemed to draw in her breath he fancied it was not with consternation.
"That is all we know," he said.
Miss Townshead gave him back the message, but Deringham did not see her face, for she and his daughter seemed to be looking at each other.
They formed a somewhat curious contrast, for Alice Deringham appeared taller and more stately than she was in her costly furs, and Nellie Townshead very slight and almost shabby in her thin and well-worn dress.

Neither spoke for a moment, but the half-amiable condescension in Miss Deringham's attitude was a trifle too marked.
"I am afraid that is all we can tell you," she said.