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〃Suspect！〃 said Josephine； haughtily； albeit her proud heart was
beating quickly。 〃I SUSPECT nothing。 I command you to tell me
what you KNOW。〃
Miguel turned with a rapid gesture and closed the door。 Then；
drawing her away from the window； he said in a hurried whisper；
〃I know that that man has not the name of Baxter！ I know that he
has the name of Randolph； a young gambler； who have won a large sum
at Sacramento； and； fearing to be robbed by those he won of； have
walk to himself through the road in disguise of a miner。 I know
that your brother Esteban have decoyed him here； and have fallen on
him。〃
〃Stop！〃 said the young girl； her eyes； which had been fixed with
the agony of conviction； suddenly flashing with the energy of
despair。 〃And you call yourself the servant of my uncle； and dare
say this of his nephew？〃
〃Yes； senora；〃 broke out the old man； passionately。 〃It is because
I am the servant of your uncle that I； and I ALONE； dare say it to
you！ It is because I perjured my soul； and have perjured my soul
to deny it elsewhere； that I now dare to say it！ It is because I；
your servant； knew it from one of my countrymen； who was of the
gang；because I； Miguel； knew that your brother was not far away
that night； and because I； whom you would dismiss； have picked up
this pocket…book of Randolph's and your brother's ring which he
have dropped； and I have found beneath the body of the man you sent
me to fetch。〃
He drew a packet from his bosom； and tossed it on the desk before
her。
〃And why have you not told me this before？〃 said Josephine；
passionately。
Miguel shrugged his shoulders。
〃What good？ Possibly this dog Randolph would die。 Possibly he
would liveas a lunatic。 Possibly would happen what has happened！
The senora is beautiful。 The American has eyes。 If the Dona
Josephine's beauty shall finish what the silly Don Esteban's arm
have begunwhat matter？〃
〃Stop！〃 cried Josephine； pressing her hands across her shuddering
eyes。 Then； uncovering her white and set face； she said rapidly；
〃Saddle my horse and your own at once。 Then take your choice！
Come with me and repeat all that you have said in the presence of
that man； or leave this ranch forever。 For if I live I shall go to
him tonight； and tell the whole story。〃
The old man cast a single glance at his mistress； shrugged his
shoulders； and； without a word； left the room。 But in ten minutes
they were on their way to the county town。
Day was breaking over the distant Burnt Ridgea faint； ghostly
level； like a funeral pall； in the dim horizonas they drew up
before the gaunt； white…painted pile of the hospital building。
Josephine uttered a cry。 Dr。 Duchesne's buggy was before the door。
On its very threshold they met the doctor； dark and irritated。
〃Then you heard the news？〃 he said； quickly。
Josephine turned her white face to the doctor's。 〃What news？〃 she
asked； in a voice that seemed strangely deep and resonant。
〃The poor fellow had another attack last night； and died of
exhaustion about an hour ago。 I was too late to save him。〃
〃Did he say anything？ Was he conscious？〃 asked the girl； hoarsely。
〃No； incoherent！ Now I think of it； he harped on the same string
as he did the night of the operation。 What was it he said？ you
remember。〃
〃'You'll have to kill me first；'〃 repeated Josephine； in a choking
voice。
〃Yes； something about his dying before he'd tell。 Well； he came
back to it before he went offthey often do。 You seem a little
hoarse with your morning ride。 You should take care of that voice
of yours。 By the way； it's a good deal like your brother's。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
The Chatelaine of Burnt Ridge never married。
THROUGH THE SANTA CLARA WHEAT
CHAPTER I
It was an enormous wheat…field in the Santa Clara valley；
stretching to the horizon line unbroken。 The meridian sun shone
upon it without glint or shadow； but at times； when a stronger gust
of the trade winds passed over it； there was a quick slanting
impression of the whole surface that was； however； as unlike a
billow as itself was unlike a sea。 Even when a lighter zephyr
played down its long level； the agitation was superficial； and
seemed only to momentarily lift a veil of greenish mist that hung
above its immovable depths。 Occasional puffs of dust alternately
rose and fell along an imaginary line across the field； as if a
current of air were passing through it； but were otherwise
inexplicable。
Suddenly a faint shout； apparently somewhere in the vicinity of the
line； brought out a perfectly clear response； followed by the
audible murmur of voices； which it was impossible to localize。 Yet
the whole field was so devoid of any suggestion of human life or
motion that it seemed rather as if the vast expanse itself had
become suddenly articulate and intelligible。
〃Wot say？〃
〃Wheel off。〃
〃Whare？〃
〃In the road。〃
One of the voices here indicated itself in the direction of the
line of dust； and said； 〃Comin'；〃 and a man stepped out from the
wheat into a broad and dusty avenue。
With his presence three things became apparent。
First； that the puffs of dust indicated the existence of the
invisible avenue through the unlimited and unfenced field of grain；
secondly； that the stalks of wheat on either side of it were so
tall as to actually hide a passing vehicle； and thirdly； that a
vehicle had just passed； had lost a wheel； and been dragged partly
into the grain by its frightened horse； which a dusty man was
trying to restrain and pacify。
The horse； given up to equine hysterics； and evidently convinced
that the ordinary buggy behind him had been changed into some
dangerous and appalling creation； still plunged and kicked
violently to rid himself of it。 The man who had stepped out of the
depths of the wheat quickly crossed the road； unhitched the traces；
drew back the vehicle； and； glancing at the traveler's dusty and
disordered clothes； said； with curt sympathy：
〃Spilt； too； but not hurt； eh？〃
〃No； neither of us。 I went over with the buggy when the wheel
cramped； but SHE jumped clear。〃
He made a gesture indicating the presence of another。 The man
turned quickly。 There was a second figure； a young girl standing
beside the grain from which he had emerged； embracing a few stalks
of wheat with one arm and a hand in which she still held her
parasol； while she grasped her gathered skirts with the other； and
trying to find a secure foothold for her two neat narrow slippers
on a crumbling cake of adobe above the fathomless dust of the
roadway。 Her face； although annoyed and discontented； was pretty；
and her light dress and slim figure were suggestive of a certain
superior condition。
The man's manner at once softened with Western courtesy。 He swung
his broad…brimmed