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254 He broke off with a pleading look at Steele who only laughed joyously, tremendously pleased with his "joke" on the queen.

"He may be a little … shall we say keen in business matters," continued Gilchrist with a rather uncertain smile. "But …"

"You will pardon me if I am not interested in discussing the subject?" asked Beatrice stiffly.

"Read the Sacramento papers tomorrow," chuckled Steele. "Big business deals go forward in the Thunder River country … the well known Miss Corliss, famed for her business acumen, outdone by Bill Steele, mayor of Boom Town … Summit City, sold for twenty thousand dollars, resold immediately for thirty thousand … feverish real estate activity in the Sierra Nevada … new tourist towns promoted by the aforesaid Steele who has incurred the Corliss enmity and jealousy …" "You brute!" cried Beatrice passionately, unable to restrain herself under his taunting. "You unthinkable brute! And if you think that I am through with you …" She cut her words off, breathing quickly, for the second time looking straight into Steele's mirthful eyes, then turning her back on him.

A notary had been summoned and the business of the day was completed quickly. At a stroke of the pen Summit City was no longer hers but became Dr. Gilchrist's, having passed through the hands of Bill Steele.

"It's just as though you had made me a present