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mother。〃
〃Nell you never will！〃
They reached Albuquerque about noon； and this important
station； where they had to change trains； had been the first
dreaded anticipation of the journey。 It certainly was a busy
place full of jabbering Mexicans； stalking； red…faced；
wicked…looking cowboys； lolling Indians。 In the confusion
Helen would have been hard put to it to preserve calmness；
with Bo to watch； and all that baggage to carry； and the
other train to find； but the kindly brakeman who had been
attentive to them now helped them off the train into the
other a service for which Helen was very grateful。
〃Albuquerque's a hard place；〃 confided the trainman。 〃Better
stay in the car and don't hang out the windows。 。 。 。
Good luck to you！〃
Only a few passengers were in the car and they were Mexicans
at the forward end。 This branch train consisted of one
passenger…coach； with a baggage…car； attached to a string of
freight…cars。 Helen told herself； somewhat grimly； that soon
she would know surely whether or not her suspicions of Harve
Riggs had warrant。 If he was going on to Magdalena on that
day he must go in this coach。 Presently Bo； who was not
obeying admonitions； drew her head out of the window。 Her
eyes were wide in amaze； her mouth open。
〃Nell！ I saw that man Riggs！〃 she whispered。 〃He's going to
get on this train。〃
〃Bo； I saw him yesterday；〃 replied Helen； soberly。 〃He's
followed you the the 〃
〃Now； Bo； don't get excited；〃 remonstrated Helen。 〃We've
left home now。 We've got to take things as they come。 Never
mind if Riggs has followed me。 I'll settle him。〃
〃Oh！ Then you won't speak have anything to do with him？〃
〃I won't if I can help it。〃
Other passengers boarded the train； dusty； uncouth； ragged
men； and some hard…featured； poorly clad women； marked by
toil； and several more Mexicans。 With bustle and loud talk
they found their several seats。
Then Helen saw Harve Riggs enter； burdened with much
luggage。 He was a man of about medium height； of dark；
flashy appearance； cultivating long black mustache and hair。
His apparel was striking； as it consisted of black
frock…coat； black trousers stuffed in high； fancy…topped
boots； an embroidered vest； and flowing tie； and a black
sombrero。 His belt and gun were prominent。 It was
significant that he excited comment among the other
passengers。
When he had deposited his pieces of baggage he seemed to
square himself； and； turning abruptly； approached the seat
occupied by the girls。 When he reached it he sat down upon
the arm of the one opposite； took off his sombrero； and
deliberately looked at Helen。 His eyes were light； glinting；
with hard； restless quiver； and his mouth was coarse and
arrogant。 Helen had never seen him detached from her home
surroundings； and now the difference struck cold upon her
heart。
〃Hello； Nell！〃 he said。 〃Surprised to see me？〃
〃No；〃 she replied； coldly。
〃I'll gamble you are。〃
〃Harve Riggs； I told you the day before I left home that
nothing you could do or say mattered to me。〃
〃Reckon that ain't so； Nell。 Any woman I keep track of has
reason to think。 An' you know it。〃
〃Then you followed me out here？〃 demanded Helen； and her
voice； despite her control； quivered with anger
〃I sure did；〃 he replied； and there was as much thought of
himself in the act as there was of her。
〃Why？ Why？ It's useless hopeless。〃
〃I swore I'd have you； or nobody else would；〃 he replied；
and here； in the passion of his voice there sounded egotism
rather than hunger for a woman's love。 〃But I reckon I'd
have struck West anyhow； sooner or later。〃
〃You're not going to all the way to Pine？〃 faltered
Helen； momentarily weakening。
〃Nell； I'll camp on your trail from now on；〃 he declared。
Then Bo sat bolt…upright； with pale face and flashing eyes。
〃Harve Riggs； you leave Nell alone；〃 she burst out； in
ringing； brave young voice。 〃I'll tell you what I'll bet
if you follow her and nag her any more； my uncle Al or
some cowboy will run you out of the country。〃
〃Hello； Pepper！〃 replied Riggs； coolly。 〃I see your manners
haven't improved an' you're still wild about cowboys。〃
〃People don't have good manners with with 〃
〃Bo； hush！〃 admonished Helen。 It was difficult to reprove Bo
just then； for that young lady had not the slightest fear of
Riggs。 Indeed； she looked as if she could slap his face。 And
Helen realized that however her intelligence had grasped the
possibilities of leaving home for a wild country； and
whatever her determination to be brave； the actual beginning
of self…reliance had left her spirit weak。 She would rise
out of that。 But just now this flashing…eyed little sister
seemed a protector。 Bo would readily adapt herself to the
West； Helen thought； because she was so young； primitive；
elemental。
Whereupon Bo turned her back to Riggs and looked out of the
window。 The man laughed。 Then he stood up and leaned over
Helen。
〃Nell； I'm goin' wherever you go；〃 he said； steadily。 〃You
can take that friendly or not； just as it pleases you。 But
if you've got any sense you'll not give these people out
here a hunch against me。 I might hurt somebody。 。 。 。 An'
wouldn't it be better to act friends？ For I'm goin' to
look after you； whether you like it or not。〃
Helen had considered this man an annoyance； and later a
menace； and now she must declare open enmity with him。
However disgusting the idea that he considered himself a
factor in her new life； it was the truth。 He existed； he had
control over his movements。 She could not change that。 She
hated the need of thinking so much about him； and suddenly；
with a hot； bursting anger； she hated the man。
〃You'll not look after me。 I'll take care of myself；〃 she
said； and she turned her back upon him。 She heard him mutter
under his breath and slowly move away down the car。 Then Bo
slipped a hand in hers。
〃Never mind； Nell；〃 she whispered。 〃You know what old
Sheriff Haines said about Harve Riggs。 'A four…flush
would…be gun…fighter！ If he ever strikes a real Western town
he'll get run out of it。' I just wish my red…faced cowboy
had got on this train！〃
Helen felt a rush of gladness that she had yielded to Bo's
wild importunities to take her West。 The spirit which had
made Bo incorrigible at home probably would make her react
happily to life out in this free country。 Yet Helen； with
all her warmth and gratefulness； had to laugh at her sister。
〃Your red…faced cowboy！ Why； Bo； you were scared stiff。 And
now you claim him！〃
〃I certainly could love that fellow；〃 replied Bo； dreamily。
〃Child； you've been saying that about fellows for a long
time。 And you've never looked twice at any of them yet。〃
〃He was different。 。 。 。 Nell； I'll bet he comes to Pine。〃
〃I hope he does。 I wish he was on this train。 I liked his
looks； Bo。〃
〃Well； Nell dear； he looked at ME first and last so don't
get your hopes up。 。 。 。 Oh； the train's starting！ 。 。 。
Good…by； Albu…ker what's that awful name？ 。 。 。 Nell；
let's eat dinner。 I'm starved。〃
Then Helen forgot her troubles and the uncertain future； and
wh