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knowed if he had a just claim。〃
〃Beasley has no claim on my property。 My uncle solemnly
swore that on his death…bed。 And I find nothing in his books
or papers of those years when he employed Beasley。 In fact；
Beasley was never uncle's partner。 The truth is that my
uncle took Beasley up when he was a poor； homeless boy。〃
〃So my old dad says；〃 replied Roy。 〃But what's right don't
always prevail in these parts。〃
〃Roy； you're the keenest man I've met since I came West。
Tell me what you think will happen。〃
Beeman appeared flattered； but be hesitated to reply。 Helen
had long been aware of the reticence of these outdoor men。
〃I reckon you mean cause an' effect； as Milt Dale would
say；〃 responded Roy； thoughtfully。
〃Yes。 If Beasley attempts to force me off my ranch what will
happen？〃
Roy looked up and met her gaze。 Helen remembered that
singular stillness； intentness of his face。
〃Wal； if Dale an' John get here in time I reckon we can
bluff thet Beasley outfit。〃
〃You mean my friends my men would confront Beasley
refuse his demands and if necessary fight him off？〃
〃I shore do；〃 replied Roy。
〃But suppose you're not all here？ Beasley would be smart
enough to choose an opportune time。 Suppose he did put me
off and take possession？ What then？〃
〃Then it 'd only be a matter of how soon Dale or Carmichael
or I got to Beasley。〃
〃Roy！ I feared just that。 It haunts me。 Carmichael asked me
to let him go pick a fight with Beasley。 Asked me； just as
he would ask me about his work！ I was shocked。 And now you
say Dale and you 〃
Helen choked in her agitation。
〃Miss Helen； what else could you look for？ Las Vegas is in
love with Miss Bo。 Shore he told me so。 An' Dale's in love
with you！ 。 。 。 Why； you couldn't stop them any more 'n you
could stop the wind from blowin' down a pine； when it got
ready。 。 。 。 Now； it's some different with me。 I'm a Mormon
an' I'm married。 But I'm Dale's pard； these many years。 An'
I care a powerful sight for you an' Miss Bo。 So I reckon I'd
draw on Beasley the first chance I got。〃
Helen strove for utterance； but it was denied her。 Roy's
simple statement of Dale's love had magnified her emotion by
completely changing its direction。 She forgot what she had
felt wretched about。 She could not look at Roy。
〃Miss Helen； don't feel bad；〃 he said； kindly。 〃Shore you're
not to blame。 Your comin' West hasn't made any difference in
Beasley's fate； except mebbe to hurry it a little。 My dad is
old； an' when he talks it's like history。 He looks back on
happenin's。 Wal； it's the nature of happenin's that Beasley
passes away before his prime。 Them of his breed don't live
old in the West。 。 。 。 So I reckon you needn't feel bad or
worry。 you've got friends。〃
Helen incoherently thanked him； and； forgetting her usual
round of corrals and stables； she hurried back toward the
house； deeply stirred； throbbing and dim…eyed； with a
feeling she could not control。 Roy Beeman had made a
statement that had upset her equilibrium。 It seemed simple
and natural； yet momentous and staggering。 To hear that Dale
loved her to hear it spoken frankly； earnestly； by Dale's
best friend； was strange； sweet； terrifying。 But was it
true？ Her own consciousness had admitted it。 Yet that was
vastly different from a man's open statement。 No longer was
it a dear dream； a secret that seemed hers alone。 How she
had lived on that secret hidden deep in her breast！
Something burned the dimness from her eyes as she looked
toward the mountains and her sight became clear； telescopic
with its intensity。 Magnificently the mountains loomed。
Black inroads and patches on the slopes showed where a few
days back all bad been white。 The snow was melting fast。
Dale would soon be free to ride down to Pine。 And that was
an event Helen prayed for； yet feared as she had never
feared anything。
The noonday dinner…bell startled Helen from a reverie that
was a pleasant aftermath of her unrestraint。 How the hours
had flown！ This morning at least must be credited to
indolence。
Bo was not in the dining…room； nor in her own room； nor was
she in sight from window or door。 This absence had occurred
before； but not particularly to disturb Helen。 In this
instance； however； she grew worried。 Her nerves presaged
strain。 There was an overcharge of sensibility in her
feelings or a strange pressure in the very atmosphere。 She
ate dinner alone； looking her apprehension； which was not
mitigated by the expressive fears of old Maria； the Mexican
woman who served her。
After dinner she sent word to Roy and Carmichael that they
had better ride out to look for Bo。 Then Helen applied
herself resolutely to her books until a rapid clatter of
hoofs out in the court caused her to jump up and hurry to
the porch。 Roy was riding in。
〃Did you find her？〃 queried Helen； hurriedly。
〃Wasn't no track or sign of her up the north range；〃 replied
Roy； as he dismounted and threw his bridle。 〃An' I was
ridin' back to take up her tracks from the corral an' trail
her。 But I seen Las Vegas comin' an' he waved his sombrero。
He was comin' up from the south。 There he is now。〃
Carmichael appeared swinging into the lane。 He was mounted
on Helen's big black Ranger； and he made the dust fly。
〃Wal； he's seen her； thet's shore；〃 vouchsafed Roy； with
relief； as Carmichael rode up。
〃Miss Neil； she's comin'；〃 said the cowboy； as he reined in
and slid down with his graceful single motion。 Then in a
violent action； characteristic of him； he slammed his
sombrero down on the porch and threw up both arms。 〃I've a
hunch it's come off！〃
〃Oh； what？〃 exclaimed Helen。
〃Now； Las Vegas； talk sense；〃 expostulated Roy。 〃Miss Helen
is shore nervous to…day。 Has anythin' happened？〃
〃I reckon； but I don't know what；〃 replied Carmichael；
drawing a； long breath。 〃Folks； I must be gettin' old。 For I
shore felt orful queer till I seen Bo。 She was ridin' down
the ridge across the valley。 Ridin' some fast； too； an'
she'll be here right off； if she doesn't stop in the
village。〃
〃Wal； I hear her comin' now；〃 said Roy。 〃An' if you asked
me I'd say she WAS ridin' some fast。〃
Helen heard the light； swift； rhythmic beat of hoofs； and
then out on the curve of the road that led down to Pine she
saw Bo's mustang； white with lather； coming on a dead run。
〃Las Vegas； do you see any Apaches？〃 asked Roy； quizzingly。
The cowboy made no reply； but he strode out from the porch；
directly in front of the mustang。 Bo was pulling hard on the
bridle； and had him slowing down； but not controlled。 When
he reached the house it could easily be seen that Bo had
pulled him to the limit of her strength； which was not
enough to halt him。 Carmichael lunged for the bridle and；
seizing it； hauled him to a standstill。
At close sight of Bo Helen uttered a startled cry。 Bo was
white； her sombrero was gone and her hair undone； there were
blood and dirt on her face； and her riding…suit was torn and
muddy。 She had evidently sustained a fall。 Roy gazed at her
in admiring consternation； but Carmichael never looked at
her at all。 Ap