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in admiring consternation； but Carmichael never looked at
her at all。 Apparently he was examining the horse。 〃Well；
help me off somebody；〃 cried Bo； peremptorily。 Her voice
was weak； but not her spirit。
Roy sprang to help her off； and when she was down it
developed that she was lame。
〃Oh； Bo！ You've had a tumble；〃 exclaimed Helen； anxiously；
and she ran to assist Roy。 They led her up the porch and to
the door。 There she turned to look at Carmichael； who was
still examining the spent mustang。
〃Tell him to come in；〃 she whispered。
〃Hey； there； Las Vegas！〃 called Roy。 〃Rustle hyar； will
you？〃
When Bo had been led into the sitting…room and seated in a
chair Carmichael entered。 His face was a study； as slowly he
walked up to Bo。
〃Girl； you ain't hurt？〃 he asked； huskily。
〃It's no fault of yours that I'm not crippled or dead or
worse；〃 retorted Bo。 〃You said the south range was the only
safe ride for me。 And there I it happened。〃
She panted a little and her bosom heaved。 One of her
gauntlets was gone； and the bare band； that was bruised and
bloody； trembled as she held it out。
〃Dear； tell us are you badly hurt？〃 queried Helen； with
hurried gentleness。
〃Not much。 I've had a spill；〃 replied Bo。 〃But oh！ I'm mad
I'm boiling！〃
She looked as if she might have exaggerated her doubt of
injuries； but certainly she had not overestimated her state
of mind。 Any blaze Helen had heretofore seen in those quick
eyes was tame compared to this one。 It actually leaped。 Bo
was more than pretty then。 Manifestly Roy was admiring her
looks； but Carmichael saw beyond her charm。 And slowly he
was growing pale。
〃I rode out the south range as I was told；〃 began Bo；
breathing hard and trying to control her feelings。 〃That's
the ride you usually take； Nell； and you bet if you'd
taken it to…day you'd not be here now。 。 。 。 About three
miles out I climbed off the range up that cedar slope。 I
always keep to high ground。 When I got up I saw two horsemen
ride out of some broken rocks off to the east。 They rode as
if to come between me and home。 I didn't like that。 I
circled south。 About a mile farther on I spied another
horseman and he showed up directly in front of me and came
along slow。 That I liked still less。 It might have been
accident； but it looked to me as if those riders had some
intent。 All I could do was head off to the southeast and
ride。 You bet I did ride。 But I got into rough ground where
I'd never been before。 It was slow going。 At last I made the
cedars and here I cut loose； believing I could circle ahead
of those strange riders and come round through Pine。 I had
it wrong。〃
Here she hesitated； perhaps for breath； for she had spoken
rapidly； or perhaps to get better hold on her subject。 Not
improbably the effect she was creating on her listeners
began to be significant。 Roy sat absorbed； perfectly
motionless； eyes keen as steel； his mouth open。 Carmichael
was gazing over Bo's head； out of the window； and it seemed
that he must know the rest of her narrative。 Helen knew that
her own wide…eyed attention alone would have been
all…compelling inspiration to Bo Rayner。
〃Sure I had it wrong；〃 resumed Bo。 〃Pretty soon heard a
horse behind。 I looked back。 I saw a big bay riding down on
me。 Oh； but he was running！ He just tore through the cedars。
。 。 。 I was scared half out of my senses。 But I spurred and
beat my mustang。 Then began a race！ Rough going thick
cedars washes and gullies I had to make him run to
keep my saddle to pick my way。 Oh…h…h！ but it was
glorious！ To race for fun that's one thing； to race for
your life is another！ My heart was in my mouth choking
me。 I couldn't have yelled。 I was as cold as ice dizzy
sometimes blind others then my stomach turned and I
couldn't get my breath。 Yet the wild thrills I had！ 。 。 。
But I stuck on and held my own for several miles to the
edge of the cedars。 There the big horse gained on me。 He
came pounding closer perhaps as close as a hundred yards
I could hear him plain enough。 Then I had my spill。 Oh；
my mustang tripped threw me 'way over his head。 I hit
light； but slid far and that's what scraped me so。 I know
my knee is raw。 。 。 。 When I got to my feet the big horse
dashed up； throwing gravel all over me and his rider
jumped off。 。 。 。 Now who do you think he was？〃
Helen knew； but she did not voice her conviction。 Carmichael
knew positively； yet he kept silent。 Roy was smiling； as if
the narrative told did not seem so alarming to him。
〃Wal； the fact of you bein' here； safe an' sound； sorta
makes no difference who thet son…of…a…gun was；〃 he said。
〃Riggs！ Harve Riggs！〃 blazed Bo。 〃The instant I recognized
him I got over my scare。 And so mad I burned all through
like fire。 I don't know what I said； but it was wild and
it was a whole lot； you bet。
〃You sure can ride；' he said。
〃I demanded why he had dared to chase me； and he said he had
an important message for Nell。 This was it： 'Tell your
sister that Beasley means to put her off an' take the ranch。
If she'll marry me I'll block his deal。 If she won't marry
me； I'll go in with Beasley。' Then he told me to hurry home
and not to breathe a word to any one except Nell。 Well； here
I am and I seem to have been breathing rather fast。〃
She looked from Helen to Roy and from Roy to Las Vegas。 Her
smile was for the latter； and to any one not overexcited by
her story that smile would have told volumes。
〃Wal； I'll be doggoned！〃 ejaculated Roy； feelingly。
Helen laughed。
〃Indeed； the working of that man's mind is beyond me。 。 。 。
Marry him to save my ranch？ I wouldn't marry him to save my
life！
Carmichael suddenly broke his silence。
〃Bo； did you see the other men？〃
〃Yes。 I was coming to that；〃 she replied。 〃I caught a
glimpse of them back in the cedars。 The three were together；
or； at least； three horsemen were there。 They had halted
behind some trees。 Then on the way home I began to think。
Even in my fury I had received impressions。 Riggs was
SURPRISED when I got up。 I'll bet he had not expected me to
be who I was。 He thought I was NELL！ 。 。 。 I look bigger in
this buckskin outfit。 My hair was up till I lost my hat； and
that was when I had the tumble。 He took me for Nell。 Another
thing； I remember he made some sign some motion while
I was calling him names； and I believe that was to keep
those other men back。 。 。 。 I believe Riggs had a plan with
those other men to waylay Nell and make off with her。 I
absolutely know it。〃
〃Bo； you're so so you jump at wild ideas so；〃
protested Helen； trying to believe in her own assurance。 But
inwardly she was trembling。
〃Miss Helen； that ain't a wild idee；〃 said Roy； seriously。
〃I reckon your sister is pretty close on the trail。 Las
Vegas； don't you savvy it thet way？〃
Carmichael's answer was to stalk out of the room。
〃Call him back！〃 cried Helen； apprehensively。
〃Hold on； boy！〃 called Roy； sharply。
Helen reached the door simultaneously with Roy。 The cowboy
picked up his sombrero； jammed it on his head； gave his belt
a vicious