tinghereyesandliftinghercheektohis。\"Tellmeonething，\"Fredwhispered。\"Yousaidthatnightontheboat，whenIfirsttoldyou，thatifyoucouldyouwouldcrushitallupinyourhandsandthrowitintothesea。Wouldyou，allthoseweeks？\"
Sheshookherhead。
\"Answerme，wouldyou？\"
\"No，Iwasangrythen。I’mnotnow。I’dnevergivethemup。Don’tmakemepaytoomuch。\"Inthatembracetheylivedoveragainalltheothers。WhenTheadrewawayfromhim，shedroppedherfaceinherhands。\"Youaregoodtome，\"shebreathed，\"youare！\"
Risingtohisfeet，heputhishandsunderherelbowsandliftedhergently。Hedrewhertowardthedoorwithhim。
\"Getallyoucan。Begenerouswithyourself。Don’tstopshortofsplendidthings。IwantthemforyoumorethanI
wantanythingelse，morethanIwantonesplendidthingformyself。Ican’thelpfeelingthatyou’llgain，somehow，bymylosingsomuch。Thatyou’llgaintheverythingI
lose。Takecareofher，asHarsanyisaid。She’swonder—
ful！\"Hekissedherandwentoutofthedoorwithoutlook—
ingback，justasifhewerecomingagainto—morrow。
Theawentquicklyintoherbedroom。Shebroughtoutanarmfulofmuslinthings，kneltdown，andbegantolaytheminthetrays。Suddenlyshestopped，droppedfor—
wardandleanedagainsttheopentrunk，herheadonherarms。Thetearsfelldownonthedarkoldcarpet。Itcameoverherhowmanypeoplemusthavesaidgood—byeandbeenunhappyinthatroom。Otherpeople，beforehertime，hadhiredthisroomtocryin。Strangeroomsandstrangestreetsandfaces，howsickathearttheymadeone！
Whywasshegoingsofar，whenwhatshewantedwassomefamiliarplacetohidein？——therockhouse，herlittleroominMoonstone，herownbed。Oh，howgooditwouldbetoliedowninthatlittlebed，tocutthenervethatkeptonestruggling，thatpulledoneonandon，tosink
intopeacethere，withallthefamilysafeandhappydown—
stairs。Afterall，shewasaMoonstonegirl，oneofthepreacher’schildren。EverythingelsewasinFred’simagi—
nation。Whywasshecalledupontotakesuchchances？
Anysafe，humdrumworkthatdidnotcompromiseherwouldbebetter。Butifshefailednow，shewouldlosehersoul。Therewasnowheretofall，afteronetookthatstep，exceptintoabyssesofwretchedness。Sheknewwhatabysses，forshecouldstillheartheoldmanplayinginthesnowstorm，\"\"Thatmelodywasreleasedinherlikeapassionoflonging。Everynerveinherbodythrilledtoit。Itbroughthertoherfeet，car—
riedhersomehowtobedandintotroubledsleep。
ThatnightshetaughtinMoonstoneagain：shebeatherpupilsinhideousrages，shekeptonbeatingthem。Shesangatfunerals，andstruggledatthepianowithHarsanyi。
Inonedreamshewaslookingintoahand—glassandthink—
ingthatshewasgettingbetter—looking，whentheglassbegantogrowsmallerandsmallerandherownreflectiontoshrink，untilsherealizedthatshewaslookingintoRayKennedy’seyes，seeingherfaceinthatlookofhiswhichshecouldneverforget。AllatoncetheeyeswereFredOttenburg’s，andnotRay’s。Allnightsheheardtheshriek—
ingoftrains，whistlinginandoutofMoonstone，assheusedtoheartheminhersleepwhentheyblewshrillinthewinterair。Butto—nighttheywereterrifying，——thespec—
tral，fatedtrainsthat\"racedwithdeath，\"aboutwhichtheoldwomanfromthedepotusedtopray。
InthemorningshewakenedbreathlessafterastrugglewithMrs。LiveryJohnson’sdaughter。Shestartedupwithabound，threwtheblanketsbackandsatontheedgeofthebed，hernight—dressopen，herlongbraidshangingoverherbosom，blinkingatthedaylight。Afterall，itwasnottoolate。Shewasonlytwentyyearsold，andtheboatsailedatnoon。Therewasstilltime！
EndofPartV
PARTVI
KRONBORG
I
Itisagloriouswinterday。Denver，standingonherhighplateauunderathrillinggreen—bluesky，ismaskedinsnowandglitteringwithsunlight。TheCapitolbuildingisactuallyinarmor，andthrowsofftheshaftsofthesununtilthebeholderisdazzledandtheoutlinesofthebuildingarelostinablazeofreflectedlight。Thestoneterraceisawhitefieldoverwhichfieryreflectionsdance，andthetreesandbushesarefaithfullyrepeatedinsnow——oneveryblacktwigasoft，blurredlineofwhite。Fromtheterraceonelooksdirectlyovertowherethemountainsbreakintheirsharp，familiarlinesagainstthesky。Snowfillsthegorges，hangsinscarfsonthegreatslopes，andonthepeaksthefierysunshineisgatheredupasbyaburning—glass。
HowardArchieisstandingatthewindowofhisprivateroomintheofficesoftheSanFelipeMiningCompany，onthesixthflooroftheRatonBuilding，lookingoffatthemountaingloriesofhisStatewhilehegivesdictationtohissecretary。Heistenyearsolderthanwhenwesawhimlast，andemphaticallytenyearsmoreprosperous。Adecadeofcomingintothingshasnotsomuchagedhimasithasforti—
fied，smoothed，andassuredhim。Hissandyhairandimperialconcealwhatevergraytheyharbor。Hehasnotgrownheavier，butmoreflexible，andhismassiveshoulderscarryfiftyyearsandthecontrolofhisgreatmininginter—
estsmorelightlythantheycarriedfortyyearsandacoun—
trypractice。Inshort，heisoneofthefriendstowhomwefeelgratefulforhavinggotonintheworld，forhelpingto
keepupthegeneraltemperatureandourownconfidenceinlife。Heisanacquaintancethatonewouldhurrytoover—
takeandgreetamongahundred。Inhiswarmhandshakeandgeneroussmilethereisthestimulatingcordialityofgoodfellowscomeintogoodfortuneandeagertopassiton；
somethingthatmakesonethinkbetterofthelotteryoflifeandresolvetotryagain。
WhenArchiehadfinishedhismorningmail，heturnedawayfromthewindowandfacedhissecretary。\"Didany—
thingcomeupyesterdayafternoonwhileIwasaway，T。B。？\"
ThomasBurkturnedovertheleafofhiscalendar。
\"GovernorAldensentdowntosaythathewantedtoseeyoubeforehesendshislettertotheBoardofPardons。
AskedifyoucouldgoovertotheStateHousethismorn—
ing。\"
Archieshruggedhisshoulders。\"I’llthinkaboutit。\"
Theyoungmangrinned。
\"Anythingelse？\"hischiefcontinued。
T。B。swungroundinhischairwithalookofinterestonhisshrewd，clean—shavenface。\"OldJasperFlightwasin，Dr。Archie。Ineverexpectedtoseehimaliveagain。Seemshe’stuckedawayforthewinterwithasisterwho’sahousekeeperattheOxford。He’sallcrippledupwithrheumatism，butasfierceafteritasever。Wantstoknowifyouorthecompanywon’tgrub—stakehimagain。Sayshe’ssureofitthistime；hadlocatedsomethingwhenthesnowshutdownonhiminDecember。Hewantstocrawloutatthefirstbreakintheweather，withthatsameoldburrowiththesplitear。Hegotsomebodytowinterthebeastforhim。He’ssuperstitiousaboutthatburro，too；
thinksit’sdivinelyguided。Yououghttohearthelineoftalkheputuphereyesterday；saidwhenherodeinhiscarriage，thatburrowasa—goingtoridealongwithhim。\"
Archielaughed。\"Didheleaveyouhisaddress？\"
\"Hedidn’tneglectanything，\"repliedtheclerkcynically。
\"Well，sendhimalineandtellhimtocomeinagain。I
liketohearhim。OfallthecrazyprospectorsI’veeverknown，he’sthemostinteresting，becausehe’sreallycrazy。
It’sareligiousconvictionwithhim，andwithmostof’emit’sagamblingfeverorpurevagrancy。ButJasperFlightbelievesthattheAlmightykeepsthesecretofthesilverdepositsinthesehills，andgivesitawaytothedeserving。
He’sadownrightnoblefigure。OfcourseI’llstakehim！
Aslongashecancrawloutinthespring。Heandthatburroareasighttogether。ThebeastisnearlyaswhiteasJasper；mustbetwentyyearsold。\"
\"Ifyoustakehimthistime，youwon’thavetoagain，\"
saidT。B。knowingly。\"He’llcroakupthere，markmyword。Sayshenevertiestheburroatnightnow，forfearhemightbecalledsudden，andthebeastwouldstarve。Iguessthatanimalcouldeatalariatrope，allright，andenjoyit。\"
\"Iguessifweknewthethingsthosetwohaveeaten，andhaven’teaten，intheirtime，T。B。，itwouldmakeusvege—
tarians。\"Thedoctorsatdownandlookedthoughtful。
\"That’sthewayfortheoldmantogo。Itwouldbeprettyhardluckifhehadtodieinahospital。Iwishhecouldturnupsomethingbeforehecashesin。Buthiskindseldomdo；they’rebewitched。Still，therewasStratton。I’vebeenmeetingJasperFlight，andhissidemeatandtinpans，upinthemountainsforyears，andI’dmisshim。Ialwayshalfwaybelievethefairytaleshespinsme。OldJasperFlight，\"Archiemurmured，asifhelikedthenameorthepictureitcalledup。
AclerkcameinfromtheouterofficeandhandedArchieacard。Hesprangupandexclaimed，\"Mr。Ottenburg？
Bringhimin。\"
FredOttenburgentered，cladinalong，fur—linedcoat，holdingachecked—clothhatinhishand，hischeeksandeyesbrightwiththeoutdoorcold。ThetwomenmetbeforeArchie’sdeskandtheirhandclaspwaslongerthanfriend—
shippromptsexceptinregionswherethebloodwarmsand
quickenstomeetthedrycold。Underthegeneralkeying—
upofthealtitude，mannerstakeonaheartiness，avivacity，thatisoneexpressionofthehalf—unconsciousexcitementwhichColoradopeoplemisswhentheydropintolowerstrataofair。Theheart，wearetold，wearsoutearlyinthathighatmosphere，butwhileitpumpsitsendsoutnosluggishstream。Ourtwofriendsstoodgrippingeachotherbythehandandsmiling。
\"Whendidyougetin，Fred？Andwhathaveyoucomefor？\"Archiegavehimaquizzicalglance。
\"I’vecometofindoutwhatyouthinkyou’redoingouthere，\"theyoungermandeclaredemphatically。\"Iwanttogetnext，Ido。Whencanyouseeme？\"
\"Anythingonto—night？Thensupposeyoudinewithme。WherecanIpickyouupatfive—thirty？\"
\"Bixby’soffice，generalfreightagentoftheBurlington。\"
Ottenburgbegantobuttonhisovercoatanddrewonhisgloves。\"I’vegottohaveoneshotatyoubeforeIgo，Archie。Didn’tItellyouPinkyAldenwasacheapsquirt？\"
Alden’sbackerlaughedandshookhishead。\"Oh，he’sworsethanthat，Fred。Itisn’tpolitetomentionwhatheis，outsideoftheArabianNights。Iguessedyou’dcometorubitintome。\"
Ottenburgpaused，hishandonthedoorknob，hishighcolorchallengingthedoctor’scalm。\"I’mdisgustedwithyou，Archie，fortrainingwithsuchapup。Amanofyourexperience！\"
\"Well，he’sbeenanexperience，\"Archiemuttered。\"I’mnotcoyaboutadmittingit，amI？\"
Ottenburgflungopenthedoor。\"Smallcredittoyou。
Eventhewomenareoutforcapitalandcorruption，Ihear。
YourGovernor’sdonemorefortheUnitedBreweriesinsixmonthsthanI’vebeenabletodoinsixyears。He’sthelily—liveredsortwe’relookingfor。Good—morning。\"
Thatafternoonatfiveo’clockDr。ArchieemergedfromtheStateHouseafterhistalkwithGovernorAlden，and
crossedtheterraceunderasaffronsky。Thesnow，beatenhard，wasblueinthedusk；adayofblindingsunlighthadnotevenstartedathaw。Thelightsofthecitytwinkledpalebelowhiminthequiveringvioletair，andthedomeoftheStateHousebehindhimwasstillredwiththelightfromthewest。Beforehegotintohiscar，thedoctorpausedtolookabouthimatthesceneofwhichhenevertired。
ArchielivedinhisownhouseonColfaxAvenue，wherehehadroomygroundsandarosegardenandaconserva—
tory。HishousekeepingwasdonebythreeJapaneseboys，devotedandresourceful，whowereabletomanageArchie’sdinnerparties，toseethathekepthisengagements，andtomakevisitorswhostayedatthehousesocomfortablethattheywerealwaysloathtogoaway。
Archiehadneverknownwhatcomfortwasuntilhebecameawidower，thoughwithcharacteristicdelicacy，ordishonesty，heinsisteduponaccreditinghispeaceofmindtotheSanFelipe，toTime，toanythingbuthisreleasefromMrs。Archie。
Mrs。ArchiediedjustbeforeherhusbandleftMoonstoneandcametoDenvertolive，sixyearsago。Thepoorwo—
man’sfightagainstdustwasherundoingatlast。Onesummerdaywhenshewasrubbingtheparlorupholsterywithgasoline，——thedoctorhadoftenforbiddenhertouseitonanyaccount，sothatwasoneofthepleasuressheseizeduponinhisabsence，——anexplosionoccurred。No—
bodyeverknewexactlyhowithappened，forMrs。Archiewasdeadwhentheneighborsrushedintosaveherfromtheburninghouse。Shemusthaveinhaledtheburninggasanddiedinstantly。
Moonstoneseverityrelentedtowardhersomewhatafterherdeath。ButevenwhileheroldcroniesatMrs。Smiley’smillinerystoresaidthatitwasaterriblething，theyaddedthatnothingbutapowerfulexplosiveCOULDhavekilledMrs。Archie，andthatitwasonlyrightthedoctorshouldhaveachance。
Archie’spastwasliterallydestroyedwhenhiswifedied。
Thehouseburnedtotheground，andallthosematerialreminderswhichhavesuchpoweroverpeopledisappearedinanhour。HismininginterestsnowtookhimtoDenversooftenthatitseemedbettertomakehisheadquartersthere。HegaveuphispracticeandleftMoonstoneforgood。Sixmonthsafterward，whileDr。ArchiewaslivingattheBrownPalaceHotel，theSanFelipeminebegantogiveupthatsilverhoardwhicholdCaptainHarrishadalwaysaccuseditofconcealing，andSanFelipeheadedthelistofminingquotationsineverydailypaper，EastandWest。InafewyearsDr。Archiewasaveryrichman。
Hisminewassuchanimportantiteminthemineralout—
putoftheState，andArchiehadahandinsomanyofthenewindustriesofColoradoandNewMexico，thathispoli—
ticalinfluencewasconsiderable。Hehadthrownitall，twoyearsago，tothenewreformparty，andhadbroughtabouttheelectionofagovernorofwhoseconducthewasnowheartilyashamed。HisfriendsbelievedthatArchiehimselfhadambitiouspoliticalplans。
II
WHENOttenburgandhishostreachedthehouseonColfaxAvenue，theywentdirectlytothelibrary，alongdoubleroomonthesecondfloorwhichArchiehadarrangedexactlytohisowntaste。Itwasfullofbooksandmountedspecimensofwildgame，withabigwriting—tableateitherend，stiff，old—fashionedengravings，heavyhang—
ingsanddeepupholstery。
WhenoneoftheJapaneseboysbroughtthecocktails，Fredturnedfromthefinespecimenofpeccorayhehadbeenexaminingandsaid，\"Amanisanowltoliveinsuchaplacealone，Archie。Whydon’tyoumarry？Asforme，justbecauseIcan’tmarry，Ifindtheworldfullofcharm—
ing，unattachedwomen，anyoneofwhomIcouldfitupahouseforwithalacrity。\"
\"You’remoreknowingthanI。\"Archiespokepolitely。
\"I’mnotverywideawakeaboutwomen。I’dbelikelytopickoutoneoftheuncomfortableones——andthereareafewofthem，youknow。\"Hedrankhiscocktailandrubbedhishandstogetherinafriendlyway。\"Myfriendsherehavecharmingwives，andtheydon’tgivemeachancetogetlonely。Theyareverykindtome，andIhaveagreatmanypleasantfriendships。\"
Fredputdownhisglass。\"Yes，I’vealwaysnoticedthatwomenhaveconfidenceinyou。Youhavethedoctor’swayofgettingnext。Andyouenjoythatkindofthing？\"
\"Thefriendshipofattractivewomen？Oh，dear，yes！
Idependuponitagreatdeal。\"
Thebutlerannounceddinner，andthetwomenwentdownstairstothedining—room。Dr。Archie’sdinnerswerealwaysgoodandwellserved，andhiswineswereexcellent。
\"IsawtheFuelandIronpeopleto—day，\"Ottenburgsaid，
lookingupfromhissoup。\"Theirheartisintherightplace。
Ican’tseewhyinthemischiefyouevergotmixedupwiththatreformgang，Archie。You’vegotnothingtoreformouthere。ThesituationhasalwaysbeenassimpleastwoandtwoinColorado；mostlyamatterofafriendlyunder—
standing。\"
\"Well，\"——Archiespoketolerantly，——\"someoftheyoungfellowsseemedtohavered—hotconvictions，andI
thoughtitwasbettertoletthemtrytheirideasout。\"
Ottenburgshruggedhisshoulders。\"Afewdullyoungmenwhohaven’tabilityenoughtoplaytheoldgametheoldway，sotheywanttoputonanewgamewhichdoesn’ttakesomuchbrainsandgivesawaymoreadvertisingthat’swhatyouranti—saloonleagueandvicecommissionamountsto。Theyprovidenotorietyforthefellowswhocan’tdistinguishthemselvesatrunningabusinessorprac—
ticinglawordevelopinganindustry。Hereyouhaveamediocrelawyerwithnobrainsandnopractice，tryingtogetalook—inonsomething。Hecomesupwiththenovelpropositionthattheprostitutehasahardtimeofit，putshispictureinthepaper，andthefirstthingyouknow，he’sacelebrity。Hegetstherake—offandshe’sjustwhereshewasbefore。Howcouldyoufallforamouse—traplikePinkAlden，Archie？\"
Dr。Archielaughedashebegantocarve。\"Pinkseemstogetunderyourskin。He’snotworthtalkingabout。
He’sgonehislimit。Peoplewon’treadabouthisblame—
lesslifeanymore。Iknewthoseinterviewshegaveoutwouldcookhim。Theywerealastresort。Icouldhavestoppedhim，butbythattimeI’dcometotheconclusionthatI’dletthereformersdown。I’mnotagainstageneralshaking—up，butthetroublewithPinky’scrowdistheynevergetbeyondageneralwriting—up。Wegavethemachancetodosomething，andtheyjustkeptonwritingabouteachotherandwhattemptationstheyhadover—
come。\"
WhileArchieandhisfriendwerebusywithColoradopolitics，theimpeccableJapaneseattendedswiftlyandintelligentlytohisduties，andthedinner，asOttenburgatlastremarked，wasworthyofmoreprofitableconversation。
\"Soitis，\"thedoctoradmitted。\"Well，we’llgoup—
stairsforourcoffeeandcutthisout。Bringupsomecognacandarak，Tai，\"headdedasherosefromthetable。
Theystoppedtoexamineamoose’sheadonthestair—
way，andwhentheyreachedthelibrarythepinelogsinthefireplacehadbeenlighted，andthecoffeewasbubblingbeforethehearth。Taiplacedtwochairsbeforethefireandbroughtatrayofcigarettes。
\"Bringthecigarsinmylowerdeskdrawer，boy，\"thedoctordirected。\"Toomuchlightinhere，isn’tthere，Fred？Lightthelampthereonmydesk，Tai。\"HeturnedofftheelectricglareandsettledhimselfdeepintothechairoppositeOttenburg’s。
\"Togobacktoourconversation，doctor，\"Fredbeganwhilehewaitedforthefirststeamtoblowoffhiscoffee；
\"whydon’tyoumakeupyourmindtogotoWashington？
There’dbenofightmadeagainstyou。Ineedn’tsaytheUnitedBrewerieswouldbackyou。There’dbesomeKUDOS
comingtous，too；backingareformcandidate。\"
Dr。Archiemeasuredhislengthinhischairandthrusthislargebootstowardthecracklingpitch—pine。Hedrankhiscoffeeandlitabigblackcigarwhilehisguestlookedovertheassortmentofcigarettesonthetray。\"Yousaywhydon’tI，\"thedoctorspokewiththedeliberationofamaninthepositionofhavingseveralcoursestochoosefrom，\"but，ontheotherhand，whyshouldI？\"Hepuffedawayandseemed，throughhishalf—closedeyes，tolookdownseverallongroadswiththeintentionofluxuriouslyrejectingallofthemandremainingwherehewas。\"I’msickofpolitics。I’mdisillusionedaboutservingmycrowd，andIdon’tparticularlywanttoserveyours。NothinginitthatIparticularlywant；andaman’snoteffectiveinpoli—
ticsunlesshewantssomethingforhimself，andwantsithard。Icanreachmyendsbystraighterroads。Thereareplentyofthingstokeepmebusy。Wehaven’tbeguntodevelopourresourcesinthisState；wehaven’thadalookinonthemyet。That’stheonlythingthatisn’tfake——
makingmenandmachinesgo，andactuallyturningoutaproduct。\"
ThedoctorpouredhimselfsomewhitecordialandlookedoverthelittleglassintothefirewithanexpressionwhichledOttenburgtobelievethathewasgettingatsomethinginhisownmind。Fredlitacigaretteandlethisfriendgropeforhisidea。
\"Myboys，here，\"Archiewenton，\"havegotmeratherinterestedinJapan。ThinkI’llgooutthereinthespring，andcomebacktheotherway，throughSiberia。I’vealwayswantedtogotoRussia。\"Hiseyesstillhuntedforsome—
thinginhisbigfireplace。Withaslowturnofhisheadhebroughtthembacktohisguestandfixedthemuponhim。
\"Justnow，I’mthinkingofrunningontoNewYorkforafewweeks，\"heendedabruptly。
Ottenburgliftedhischin。\"Ah！\"heexclaimed，asifhebegantoseeArchie’sdrift。\"ShallyouseeThea？\"
\"Yes。\"Thedoctorreplenishedhiscordialglass。\"Infact，IsuspectIamgoingexactlyTOseeher。I’mgettingstaleonthingshere，Fred。Bestpeopleintheworldandalwaysdoingthingsforme。I’mfondofthem，too，butI’vebeenwiththemtoomuch。I’mgettingill—tempered，andthefirstthingIknowI’llbehurtingpeople’sfeelings。
IsnappedMrs。DandridgeupoverthetelephonethisafternoonwhensheaskedmetogoouttoColoradoSpringsonSundaytomeetsomeEnglishpeoplewhoarestayingattheAntlers。Veryniceofhertowantme，andIwasassourasifshe’dbeentryingtoworkmeforsomething。
I’vegottogetoutforawhile，tosavemyreputation。\"
TothisexplanationOttenburghadnotpaidmuchatten—
tion。Heseemedtobelookingatafixedpoint：theyellow
glasseyesofafinewildcatoveroneofthebookcases。
\"You’veneverheardheratall，haveyou？\"heaskedreflectively。\"Curious，whenthisishersecondseasoninNewYork。\"
\"IwasgoingonlastMarch。Hadeverythingarranged。
AndthenoldCapHarristhoughthecoulddrivehiscarandmethroughalamp—postandIwaslaidupwithacom—
poundfracturefortwomonths。SoIdidn’tgettoseeThea。\"
Ottenburgstudiedtheredendofhiscigaretteattentively。
\"Shemighthavecomeouttoseeyou。Irememberyoucoveredthedistancelikeastreakwhenshewantedyou。\"
Archiemoveduneasily。\"Oh，shecouldn’tdothat。ShehadtogetbacktoViennatoworkonsomenewpartsforthisyear。ShesailedtwodaysaftertheNewYorkseasonclosed。\"
\"Well，thenshecouldn’t，ofcourse。\"Fredsmokedhiscigarettecloseandtossedtheendintothefire。\"I’mtre—
mendouslygladyou’regoingnow。Ifyou’restale，she’lljackyouup。That’soneofherspecialties。ShegotariseoutofmelastDecemberthatlastedmeallwinter。\"