But Demorest had noticed, if he had not, that Stacy's laugh was a little nervously prolonged for a man of his temperament, and that he had cast a very keen glance at Barker.

A messenger arriving with a telegram brought from Boomville called Stacy momentarily away, and Barker was not slow to take advantage of his absence.
"I wish, Phil," he said, hitching his chair closer to Demorest, "that you would think seriously of this matter, and try to persuade Stacy--who, I believe, is more interested in Mrs.Horncastle than he cares to show--to put a little of that determination in love that he has shown in business.

She's an awfully fine woman, and in every way suited to him, and he is letting an absurd sense of pride and honor keep him from influencing her to get rid of her impossible husband.

There's no reason," continued Barker in a burst of enthusiastic simplicity, "that BECAUSE she has found some one she likes better, and who would treat her better, that she should continue to stick to that beast whom all California would gladly see her divorced from.

I never could understand that kind of argument, could you ?" Demorest looked at his companion's glowing cheek and kindling eye with a smile.