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determined to forget Miss Porter and all that tended to recall the
unlucky ring； but； cruelly enough； she was the only thing that
refused to be forgottenwhose undulating figure reclined opposite
to him in the weird moonlight of his ruined cabin； whose voice
mingled with the song of the river by whose banks he toiled； and
whose eyes and touch thrilled him in his dreams。 Partly for this
reason； and partly because his clothes were beginning to be patched
and torn； he avoided Red Chief and any place where he would be
likely to meet her。 In spite of this precaution he had once seen
her driving in a pony carriage； but so smartly and fashionably
dressed that he drew back in the cover of a wayside willow that she
might pass without recognition。 He looked down upon his red…
splashed clothes and grimy； soil…streaked hands； and for a moment
half hated her。 His comrades seldom spoke of herinstinctively
fearing some temptation that might beset his Spartan resolutions；
but he heard from time to time that she had been seen at balls and
parties； apparently enjoying those very frivolities of her sex she
affected to condemn。
It was a Sabbath morning in early spring that he was returning from
an ineffectual attempt to enlist a capitalist at the county town to
redeem the fortunes of Blazing Star。 He was pondering over the
narrowness of that capitalist； who had evidently but illogically
connected Cass's present appearance with the future of that
struggling camp； when he became so foot…sore that he was obliged to
accept a 〃lift〃 from a wayfaring teamster。 As the slowly lumbering
vehicle passed the new church on the outskirts of the town； the
congregation were sallying forth。 It was too late to jump down and
run away； and Cass dared not ask his new…found friend to whip up
his cattle。 Conscious of his unshorn beard and ragged garments； he
kept his eyes fixed upon the road。 A voice that thrilled him
called his name。 It was Miss Porter； a resplendent vision of silk；
laces； and Easter flowersyet actually running； with something of
her old dash and freedom； beside the wagon。 As the astonished
teamster drew up before this elegant apparition； she panted：
〃Why did you make me run so far； and why didn't you look up？〃
Cass； trying to hide the patches on his knees beneath a newspaper；
stammered that he had not seen her。
〃And you did not hold down your head purposely？〃
〃No；〃 said Cass。
〃Why have you not been to Red Chief？ Why didn't you answer my
message about the ring？〃 she asked； swiftly。
〃You sent nothing but the ring；〃 said Cass； coloring； as he glanced
at the teamster。
〃Why； THAT was a message； you born idiot。〃
Cass stared。 The teamster smiled。 Miss Porter gazed anxiously at
the wagon。 〃I think I'd like a ride in there； it looks awfully
good。〃 She glanced mischievously around at the lingering and
curious congregation。
〃May I？〃
But Cass deprecated that proceeding strongly。 It was dirty； he was
not sure it was even WHOLESOME； she would be SO uncomfortable； he；
himself； was only going a few rods farther； and in that time she
might ruin her dress
〃Oh； yes；〃 she said； a little bitterly； 〃certainly； my dress must
be looked after。 Andwhat else？〃
〃People might think it strange； and believe I had invited you；〃
continued Cass； hesitatingly。
〃When I had only invited myself？ Thank you。 Good…by。〃
She waved her hand and stepped back from the wagon。 Cass would
have given worlds to recall her； but he sat still； and the vehicle
moved on in moody silence。 At the first cross road he jumped down。
〃Thank you；〃 he said to the teamster。 〃You're welcome；〃 returned
that gentleman； regarding him curiously； 〃but the next time a gal
like that asks to ride in this yer wagon； I reckon I won't take the
vote of any deadhead passenger。 Adios； young fellow。 Don't stay
out late； ye might be run off by some gal； and what would your
mother say？〃 Of course the young man could only look unutterable
things and walk away； but even in that dignified action he was
conscious that its effect was somewhat mitigated by a large patch
from a material originally used as a flour sack； which had repaired
his trousers； but still bore the ironical legend； 〃Best Superfine。〃
The summer brought warmth and promise and some blossom； if not
absolute fruition； to Blazing Star。 The long days drew Nature into
closer communion with the men； and hopefulness followed the
discontent of their winter seclusion。 It was easier； too； for
Capital to be wooed and won into making a picnic in these mountain
solitudes than when high water stayed the fords and drifting snow
the Sierran trails。 At the close of one of these Arcadian days
Cass was smoking before the door of his lonely cabin when he was
astounded by the onset of a dozen of his companions。 Peter
Drummond； far in the van； was waving a newspaper like a victorious
banner。 〃All's right now； Cass； old man！〃 he panted as he stopped
before Cass and shoved back his eager followers。
〃What's all right？〃 asked Cass； dubiously。
〃YOU！ You kin rake down the pile now。 You're hunky！ You're on
velvet。 Listen！〃
He opened the newspaper and read； with annoying deliberation； as
follows：
〃LOST。If the finder of a plain gold ring； bearing the engraved
inscription； 'May to Cass；' alleged to have been picked up on the
high road near Blazing Star on the 4th March； 186…； will apply to
Bookham & Sons； bankers； 1007 Y Street； Sacramento； he will be
suitably rewarded either for the recovery of the ring； or for such
facts as may identify it； or the locality where it was found。〃
Cass rose and frowned savagely on his comrades。 〃No！ no！〃 cried a
dozen voices； assuringly。 〃It's all right！ Honest Injun！ True as
gospel！ No joke； Cass！〃
〃Here's the paper； Sacramento 'Union' of yesterday。 Look for
yourself；〃 said Drummond； handing him the well…worn journal。 〃And
you see；〃 he added； 〃how darned lucky you are。 It ain't necessary
for you to produce the ring； so if that old biled owl of a
Boompointer don't giv' it back to ye； it's all the same。〃
〃And they say nobody but the finder need apply；〃 interrupted
another。 〃That shuts out Boompointer or Kanaka Joe； for the matter
o' that。〃
〃It's clar that it MEANS you； Cass； ez much ez if they'd given your
name；〃 added a third。
For Miss Porter's sake and his own Cass had never told them of the
restoration of the ring； and it was evident that Mountain Charley
had also kept silent。 Cass could not speak now without violating a
secret； and he was pleased that the ring itself no longer played an
important part in the mystery。 But what was that mystery； and why
was the ring secondary to himself？ Why was so much stress laid
upon his finding it？
〃You see；〃 said Drummond； as if answering his unspoken thought；
〃that 'ar galfor it is a gal in coursehez read all about it in
the papers； and hez s