lished claims on the mountainside, and seeks the
virgin land beyond; unless, indeed, the prospector
be dishonest. But Alice was no claim-jumper--so
long as the notice of ownership was plainly posted.

Though she was indifferent now, habit ruled her:
and, at the very time she wondered why she created
fictitious cigars for her father, she was also regretting
that she had not boldly carried her Malacca stick
down-town with her. Her vivacity increased auto-
matically.

"Perhaps the clerk thought you wanted the
cigars for yourself," Russell suggested. "He may
have taken you for a Spanish countess."

"I'm sure he did!" Alice agreed, gaily; and she
hummed a bar or two of "La Paloma," snapping her
fingers as castanets, and swaying her body a little, to
suggest the accepted stencil of a "Spanish Dancer."
"Would you have taken me for one, Mr. Russell?"
she asked, as she concluded the impersonation.

"I? Why, yes," he said. "I'd take you for any-
thing you wanted me to."

"Why, what a speech!" she cried, and, laughing,
gave him a quick glance in which there glimmered
some real surprise. He was looking at her quizzi-
cally, but with the liveliest appreciation. Her sur-

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