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features now that he was bareheaded。 Helen had never seen a
face like that； which at first glance appeared darkly
bronzed and hard； and then became clear； cold； aloof； still；
intense。 She wished she might see a smile upon it。 And now
that the die was cast she could not tell why she had trusted
it。 There was singular force in it； but she did not
recognize what kind of force。 One instant she thought it was
stern； and the next that it was sweet； and again that it was
neither。
〃I'm glad you've got your sister；〃 he said； presently。
〃How did you know she's my sister？〃
〃I reckon she looks like you。〃
〃No one else ever thought so；〃 replied Helen； trying to
smile。
Bo had no difficulty in smiling； as she said； 〃Wish I was
half as pretty as Nell。〃
〃Nell。 Isn't your name Helen？〃 queried Dale。
〃Yes。 But my some few call me Nell。〃
〃I like Nell better than Helen。 An' what's yours？〃 went on
Dale； looking at Bo。
〃Mine's Bo。 just plain B…o。 Isn't it silly？ But I wasn't
asked when they gave it to me；〃 she replied。
〃Bo。 It's nice an' short。 Never heard it before。 But I
haven't met many people for years。〃
〃Oh！ we've left the town！〃 cried Bo。 〃Look； Nell！ How bare！
It's just like desert。〃
〃It is desert。 We've forty miles of that before we come to a
hill or a tree。〃
Helen glanced out。 A flat； dull…green expanse waved away
from the road on and on to a bright； dark horizon…line；
where the sun was setting rayless in a clear sky。 Open；
desolate； and lonely； the scene gave her a cold thrill。
〃Did your uncle Al ever write anythin' about a man named
Beasley？〃 asked Dale。
〃Indeed he did；〃 replied Helen； with a start of surprise。
〃Beasley！ That name is familiar to us and detestable。 My
uncle complained of this man for years。 Then he grew bitter
accused Beasley。 But the last year or so not a word！〃
〃Well； now；〃 began the hunter； earnestly； 〃let's get the bad
news over。 I'm sorry you must be worried。 But you must learn
to take the West as it is。 There's good an' bad； maybe more
bad。 That's because the country's young。 。 。 。 So to come
right out with it this Beasley hired a gang of outlaws to
meet the stage you was goin' in to Snowdrop to…morrow
an' to make off with you。〃
〃Make off with me？〃 ejaculated Helen； bewildered。
〃Kidnap you！ Which； in that gang； would be worse than
killing you！〃 declared Dale； grimly； and he closed a huge
fist on his knee。
Helen was utterly astounded。
〃How hor…rible！〃 she gasped out。 〃Make off with me！ 。 。 。
What in Heaven's name for？〃
Bo gave vent to a fierce little utterance。
〃For reasons you ought to guess；〃 replied Dale； and he
leaned forward again。 Neither his voice nor face changed in
the least； but yet there was a something about him that
fascinated Helen。 〃I'm a hunter。 I live in the woods。 A few
nights ago I happened to be caught out in a storm an' I took
to an old log cabin。 Soon as I got there I heard horses。 I
hid up in the loft。 Some men rode up an' come in。 It was
dark。 They couldn't see me。 An' they talked。 It turned out
they were Snake Anson an' his gang of sheep…thieves。 They
expected to meet Beasley there。 Pretty soon he came。 He told
Anson how old Al； your uncle； was on his last legs how he
had sent for you to have his property when he died。 Beasley
swore he had claims on Al。 An' he made a deal with Anson to
get you out of the way。 He named the day you were to reach
Magdalena。 With Al dead an' you not there； Beasley could get
the property。 An' then he wouldn't care if you did come to
claim it。 It 'd be too late。 。 。 。 Well； they rode away that
night。 An' next day I rustled down to Pine。 They're all my
friends at Pine； except old Al。 But they think I'm queer。 I
didn't want to confide。 in many people。 Beasley is strong in
Pine； an' for that matter I suspect Snake Anson has other
friends there besides Beasley。 So I went to see your uncle。
He never had any use for me because he thought I was lazy
like an Indian。 Old Al hates lazy men。 Then we fell out
or he fell out because he believed a tame lion of mine
had killed some of his sheep。 An' now I reckon that Tom
might have done it。 I tried to lead up to this deal of
Beasley's about you； but old Al wouldn't listen。 He's cross
very cross。 An' when I tried to tell him； why； he went
right out of his head。 Sent me off the ranch。 Now I reckon
you begin to see what a pickle I was in。 Finally I went to
four friends I could trust。 They're Mormon boys brothers。
That's Joe out on top； with the driver。 I told them all
about Beasley's deal an' asked them to help me。 So we
planned to beat Anson an' his gang to Magdalena。 It happens
that Beasley is as strong in Magdalena as he is in Pine。 An'
we had to go careful。 But the boys had a couple of friends
here Mormons； too； who agreed to help us。 They had this
old stage。 。 。 。 An' here you are。〃 Dale spread out his big
hands and looked gravely at Helen and then at Bo。
〃You're perfectly splendid！〃 cried Bo； ringingly。 She was
white； her fingers were clenched； her eyes blazed。
Dale appeared startled out of his gravity； and surprised；
then pleased。 A smile made his face like a boy's。 Helen felt
her body all rigid； yet slightly trembling。 Her hands were
cold。 The horror of this revelation held her speechless。 But
in her heart she echoed Bo's exclamation of admiration and
gratitude。
〃So far； then；〃 resumed Dale； with a heavy breath of relief。
〃No wonder you're upset。 I've a blunt way of talkin'。 。 。 。
Now we've thirty miles to ride on this Snowdrop road before
we can turn off。 To…day sometime the rest of the boys
Roy； John； an' Hal were to leave Show Down； which's a
town farther on from Snowdrop。 They have my horses an' packs
besides their own。 Somewhere on the road we'll meet them
to…night； maybe or tomorrow。 I hope not to…night； because
that 'd mean Anson's gang was ridin' in to Magdalena。〃
Helen wrung her hands helplessly。
〃Oh； have I no courage？〃 she whispered。
〃Nell； I'm as scared as you are；〃 said Bo； consolingly；
embracing her sister。
〃I reckon that's natural；〃 said Dale； as if excusing them。
〃But； scared or not； you both brace up。 It's a bad job。 But
I've done my best。 An' you'll be safer with me an' the
Beeman boys than you'd be in Magdalena； or anywhere else；
except your uncle's。〃
〃Mr。 Mr。 Dale；〃 faltered Helen； with her tears falling；
〃don't think me a coward or or ungrateful。 I'm
neither。 It's only I'm so so shocked。 After all we hoped
and expected this this is such a a terrible
surprise。〃
〃Never mind； Nell dear。 Let's take what comes；〃 murmured Bo。
〃That's the talk；〃 said Dale。 〃You see； I've come right out
with the worst。 Maybe we'll get through easy。 When we meet
the boys we'll take to the horses an' the trails。 Can you
ride？〃
〃Bo has been used to horses all her life and I ride fairly
well；〃 responded Helen。 The idea of riding quickened her
spirit。
〃Good！ We may have some hard ridin' before I get you up to
Pine。 Hello！ What's that？〃
Above the creaking； rattling； rolling roar of the stage
Helen heard a rapid