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Moya found in Goldbanksthe line of least resistance, its slapdash buildings, the scarred hillsides dotted with red shaft-houses beneath which straggled slate-colored duenous to a life the ed by her Bret Harte, the place ought to be picturesque Perhaps it was, but Moya was given little chance to find out At least it was interesting Even from an outside point of view she could see that existence was reduced to the eleer and privation and toil No doubt if she could have seen their hearts they fought too for love

Miss Seldon was frankly bored by the crude rawness of the place One phase of it alone interested her Of all this turbid activity Dobyans Verinder was the chief profiter Other capitalists had an interest in the camp Lord Farquhar held stock in the Mollie Gibson and Moya's small inheritance was invested mostly in thecole owner His holdings were scattered all over the caest properties at Goldbanks, he held a controlling vote

It was impossible for Joyce to put her nose out of the hotel without being confronted with the wealth of her suitor Thiswo to make him richer If Verinder could have known it, the environment was a potent ally for hiold; here he was a sole autocrat of the caan to look ive an amplitude, a spaciousness that would make the relationship tolerable As a man of moderate means he would not have done at all, but every added million would help to reduce the intio her way and he his Meanwhile, she kept hiain he was made to understand that it would be better to keep his distance

The days grew shorter and the s colder As the weeks passed the approach of winter began to push autuht that an to talk of getting back to London, but there was an i consolidation of properties that held the men at Goldbanks For ain a few days now, but the deal on hand was of such importance that it was felt best to stay until it was effected