At Golden, Brockway ran out and secured a copy of the President's telegram as it stood when written; and when opportunity offered, he showed it to Gertrude.
"It was purposely garbled by a friend of mine," he confessed, shamelessly; "but how much or how little I didn't know till now. I have no excuse to offer but the one you know. I thought it was my last chance to ever spend a day with you, and I would have done a much worse thing rather than lose it. Can you forgive me?"
"Forgive you for daring to make me happy? I should be something more or less than a woman if I didn't. But my father won't."
"No, I suppose not. But you must not try to shield me. When you tell him, let it be clearly understood that I alone am to blame. Is there any probability that he has carried out his threat of leaving you behind?"
"Not the least," she replied, confidently; "it was only what you of the West would call a--a little bluff, I think."
"You still think it will be better for you to tell him first? that I'd better not go to him at once?"
"I do; but you may speak to him afterward, if you think best."
"It must be this evening. When shall I come?"
"Any time after dinner. If you will watch the window of my stateroom, I'll let you know when you can find him alone."
The day was going out in a dusty twilight, and they were again standing on the rear platform of the second observation-car.
When the train clattered in over the switches and stopped on the outer track of the Denver station platform, this last car was screened by the dimly lighted hulk of the Tadmor switched in to receive its lading. Brockway ran down the steps and swung Gertrude lightly to the platform; after which he put his arms about her and kissed her passionately.
"God knows when the next time will be," he said, with a sudden foreboding of evil; and then he took her arm and led her swiftly across to the private car, leaving the Burtons to go whither they would.
The waiter was laying the plates for dinner when Gertrude came out of her stateroom, and Fleetwell rose and placed a chair for her where they would be out of earshot of the others.
"Had a comfortably good time to-day?" he inquired, stretching himself lazily on the lounge at her side.