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drew the proffered chair towards her； 〃but this is business that
concerns you both。〃 He stopped and glanced upwards at the picture。
〃I suppose you know nothing of his business？ Of course not；〃 he
added reassuringly； 〃nothing； absolutely nothing； certainly。〃 He
said this so kindly； and yet so positively； as if to promptly
dispose of that question before going further； that she assented
mechanically。 〃Well； then； he's taken some big risks in the way of
business； andwell； things have gone bad with him； you know。 Very
bad！ Really； they couldn't be worse！ Of course it was dreadfully
rash and all that；〃 he went on； as if commenting upon the amusing
waywardness of a child； 〃but the result is the usual smash…up of
everything； money； credit； and all！〃 He laughed and added： 〃Yes；
he's got cut offmules and baggage regularly routed and dispersed！
I'm in earnest。〃 He raised his eyebrows and frowned slightly； as
if to deprecate any corresponding hilarity on the part of Mrs。
Tucker； or any attempt to make TOO light of the subject； and then
rising； placed his hands behind his back； beamed half…humorously
upon her from beneath her husband's picture； and repeated： 〃That's
so。〃
Mrs。 Tucker instinctively knew that he spoke the truth； and that it
was impossible for him to convey it in any other than his natural
manner； but between the shock and the singular influence of that
manner she could at first only say； 〃You don't mean it！〃 fully
conscious of the utter inanity of the remark； and that it seemed
scarcely less cold…blooded than his own。
Poindexter； still smiling； nodded。
She arose with an effort。 She had recovered from the first shock；
and pride lent her a determined calmness that more than equaled
Poindexter's easy philosophy。
〃Where is he？〃 she asked。
〃At sea； and I hope by this time where he can not be found or
followed。〃
Was her momentary glimpse of the outgoing ship a coincidence； or
only a vision？ She was confused and giddy； but； mastering her
weakness； she managed to continue in a lower voice：
〃You have no message for me from him？ He told you nothing to tell
me？〃
〃Nothing； absolutely nothing；〃 replied Poindexter。 〃It was as much
as he could do； I reckon； to get fairly away before the crash
came。〃
〃Then you did not see him go？〃
〃Well； no；〃 said Poindexter。 〃I'd hardly have managed things in
this way。〃 He checked himself and added； with a forgiving smile；
〃But he was the best judge of what he needed； of course。〃
〃I suppose I will hear from him；〃 she said quietly； 〃as soon as he
is safe。 He must have had enough else to think about； poor
fellow。〃
She said this so naturally and quietly that Poindexter was
deceived。 He had no idea that the collected woman before him was
thinking only of solitude and darkness； of her own room； and madly
longing to be there。 He said； 〃Yes； I dare say；〃 in quite another
voice； and glanced at the picture。 But as she remained standing；
he continued more earnestly； 〃I didn't come here to tell you what
you might read in the newspapers to…morrow morning； and what
everybody might tell you。 Before that time I want you to do
something to save a fragment of your property from the ruin； do you
understand？ I want you to make a rally； and bring off something in
good order。〃
〃For him？〃 said Mrs。 Tucker； with brightening eyes。
〃Well； yes； of courseif you likebut as if for yourself。 Do you
know the Rancho de los Cuervos？〃
〃I do。〃
〃It's almost the only bit of real property your husband hasn't
sold； mortgaged； or pledged。 Why it was exempt； or whether only
forgotten； I can't say。〃
〃I'll tell you why；〃 said Mrs。 Tucker； with a slight return of
color。 〃It was the first land we ever bought； and Spencer always
said it should be mine and he would build a new house on it。〃
Captain Poindexter smiled and nodded at the picture。 〃Oh； he did
say that； did he？ Well； THAT'S evidence。 But you see he never
gave you the deed； and by sunrise to…morrow his creditors will
attach itunless〃
〃Unless〃 repeated Mrs。 Tucker； with kindling eyes。
〃Unless；〃 continued Captain Poindexter； 〃they happen to find YOU in
possession。〃
〃I'll go；〃 said Mrs。 Tucker。
〃Of course you will；〃 returned Poindexter； pleasantly； 〃only； as
it's a big contract to take； suppose we see how you can fill it。
It's forty miles to Los Cuervos； and you can't trust yourself to
steamboat or stage…coach。 The steamboat left an hour ago。〃
〃If I had only known this then！〃 ejaculated Mrs。 Tucker。
〃I knew it； but you had company then；〃 said Poindexter； with
ironical gallantry； 〃and I wouldn't disturb you。〃 Without saying
how he knew it； he continued； 〃In the stage…coach you might be
recognized。 You must go in a private conveyance and alone； even I
can not go with you； for I must go on before and meet you there。
Can you drive forty miles？〃
Mrs。 Tucker lifted up her abstracted pretty lids。 〃I once drove
fiftyat home；〃 she returned simply。
〃Good！ and I dare say you did it then for fun。 Do it now for
something real and personal； as we lawyers say。 You will have
relays and a plan of the road。 It's rough weather for a pasear；
but all the better for that。 You'll have less company on the
road。〃
〃How soon can I go？〃 she asked。
〃The sooner the better。 I've arranged everything for you already；〃
he continued with a laugh。 〃Come now； that's a compliment to you；
isn't it？〃 He smiled a moment in her steadfast； earnest face； and
then said； more gravely； 〃You'll do。 Now listen。〃
He then carefully detailed his plan。 There was so little of
excitement or mystery in their manner that the servant； who
returned to light the gas； never knew that the ruin and bankruptcy
of the house was being told before her； or that its mistress was
planning her secret flight。
〃Good afternoon； I will see you to…morrow then；〃 said Poindexter；
raising his eyes to hers as the servant opened the door for him。
〃Good afternoon；〃 repeated Mrs。 Tucker quietly answering his look。
〃You need not light the gas in my room； Mary；〃 she continued in the
same tone of voice as the door closed upon him； 〃I shall lie down
for a few moments； and then I may run over to the Robinsons for the
evening。〃
She regained her room composedly。 The longing desire to bury her
head in her pillow and 〃think out〃 her position had gone。 She did
not apostrophize her fate； she did not weep； few real women do in
the access of calamity； or when there is anything else to be done。
She felt that she knew it all； she believed she had sounded the
profoundest depths of the disaster； and seemed already so old in
her experience that she almost fancied she had been prepared for
it。 Perhaps she did not fully appreciate it； to a life like hers
it was only an incident； the mere turning of a page of the
illimitable book of youth； the breaking up of what she now felt ha