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"Is that what iteyes rest with innocent in of disco of that sort, I suppose"

"Just what is a highgrader?"

Moya held her breath The debonair lightness of the question could not rob it of its significance Nobody but Joyce would have dared such a horader is a miner who saves the co valuable ore s to the coally it does, morally it doesn't--not all of it The man who risks his life and the support of his faround is entitled to a share of the profit, isn't he?"

"He gets his wages, doesn't he?"

"Enough to live on--if he doesn't want to live too high But is that all he is entitled to? Your friend"--he waved a hand toward Verinder, puffing up the trail a hundred yards below--"draws millions of dollars in dividends from the work of these men What does he do to earn it?"

"You're a socialist," charged Joyce gayly "Or is it an anarchist that believes such dreadful things?"

"Mr Kilested Moya quietly

"Don't I?" Behind Jack's quizzical smile there was a hint of earnestness "I believe that Dobyans Verinder is a parasite in Goldbanks He gobbles up the product of others' toil"

Joyce flashed at hiht to be a highgrader yourself"

"Joyce," reproved Moya, aghast

"Islightly at her own audacity

Her impudence amused the miner "Perhaps I am--in principle"

"But only in principle," she e at hireed There was hu step further "But of course in practice----"

"You should have been a lawyer, Miss Seldon," he countered "If you were, my reply would be that by advice of counsel I must decline to answer"

"Oh, by advice of counsel! Dear al, doesn't it, Moya? Isn't that what criive themselves away I believe it is," he tossed back with the sahtness "Before I make confession I shall want to knohether you are on my side--or Verinder's"

Under the steady look of his bold, possessive eyes the long silken lashes fell to the soft cheeks Joyce understood the unvoiced deage of battle Was she for Verinder or for hies of his rival, her ansould not have been in doubt But she knew she dared not marry a poor man, noor how great her longing for him Not the least intention of any romantic absurdity was in her o to Verinder and his o yet