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〃Bo； I we'll all thank him all our lives；〃 replied
Dale。 〃Wilson； you're a man！ 。 。 。 If you'll shake that gang
〃
〃Dale； shore there ain't much of a gang left； onless you let
Burt git away；〃 replied Wilson。
〃I didn't kill him or hurt him。 But I scared him so I'll
bet he's runnin' yet。 。 。 。 Wilson； did all the shootin'
mean a fight？〃
〃Tolerable。〃
〃Oh； Dale； it was terrible！ I saw it all。 I 〃
〃Wal； Miss； you can tell him after I go。 。 。 。 I'm wishin'
you good luck。〃
His voice was a cool； easy drawl； slightly tremulous。
The girl's face flashed white in the gloom。 She pressed
against the outlaw wrung his hands。
〃Heaven help you； Jim Wilson！ You ARE from Texas！ 。 。 。 I'll
remember you pray for you all my life！〃
Wilson moved away； out toward the pale glow of light under
the black pines。
CHAPTER XXIV
As Helen Rayner watched Dale ride away on a quest perilous
to him； and which meant almost life or death for her； it was
surpassing strange that she could think of nothing except
the thrilling； tumultuous moment when she had put her arms
round his neck。
It did not matter that Dale splendid fellow that he was
had made the ensuing moment free of shame by taking her
action as he had taken it the fact that she had actually
done it was enough。 How utterly impossible for her to
anticipate her impulses or to understand them； once they
were acted upon！ Confounding realization then was that when
Dale returned with her sister； Helen knew she would do the
same thing over again！〃
〃If I do I won't be two…faced about it；〃 she
soliloquized； and a hot blush flamed her cheeks。
She watched Dale until he rode out of sight。
When he had gone； worry and dread replaced this other
confusing emotion。 She turned to the business of meeting
events。 Before supper she packed her valuables and books；
papers； and clothes； together with Bo's； and had them in
readiness so if she was forced to vacate the premises she
would have her personal possessions。
The Mormon boys and several other of her trusted men slept
in their tarpaulin beds on the porch of the ranch…house that
night； so that Helen at least would not be surprised。 But
the day came； with its manifold duties undisturbed by any
event。 And it passed slowly with the leaden feet of
listening； watching vigilance。
Carmichael did not come back； nor was there news of him to
be had。 The last known of him had been late the afternoon of
the preceding day； when a sheep…herder had seen him far out
on the north range； headed for the hills。 The Beemans
reported that Roy's condition had improved； and also that
there was a subdued excitement of suspense down in the
village。
This second lonely night was almost unendurable for Helen。
When she slept it was to dream horrible dreams； when she lay
awake it was to have her heart leap to her throat at a
rustle of leaves near the window； and to be in torture of
imagination as to poor Bo's plight。 A thousand times Helen
said to herself that Beasley could have had the ranch and
welcome； if only Bo had been spared。 Helen absolutely
connected her enemy with her sister's disappearance。 Riggs
might have been a means to it。
Daylight was not attended by so many fears； there were
things to do that demanded attention。 And thus it was that
the next morning； shortly before noon； she was recalled to
her perplexities by a shouting out at the corrals and a
galloping of horses somewhere near。 From the window she saw
a big smoke。
〃Fire！ That must be one of the barns the old one；
farthest out；〃 she said； gazing out of the window。 〃Some
careless Mexican with his everlasting cigarette！〃
Helen resisted an impulse to go out and see what had
happened。 She had decided to stay in the house。 But when
footsteps sounded on the porch and a rap on the door； she
unhesitatingly opened it。 Four Mexicans stood close。 One of
them； quick as thought； flashed a hand in to grasp her； and
in a single motion pulled her across the threshold。
〃No hurt； Senuora；〃 he said； and pointed making motions
she must go。
Helen did not need to be told what this visit meant。 Many as
her conjectures had been； however； she had not thought of
Beasley subjecting her to this outrage。 And her blood
boiled。
〃How dare you！〃 she said； trembling in her effort to control
her temper。 But class； authority； voice availed nothing with
these swarthy Mexicans。 They grinned。 Another laid hold of
Helen with dirty； brown hand。 She shrank from the contact。
〃Let go！〃 she burst out； furiously。 And instinctively she
began to struggle to free herself。 Then they all took hold
of her。 Helen's dignity might never have been！ A burning；
choking rush of blood was her first acquaintance with the
terrible passion of anger that was her inheritance from the
Auchinclosses。 She who had resolved never to lay herself
open to indignity now fought like a tigress。 The Mexicans；
jabbering in their excitement； had all they could do； until
they lifted her bodily from the porch。 They handled her as
if she had been a half…empty sack of corn。 One holding each
hand and foot they packed her； with dress disarranged and
half torn off； down the path to the lane and down the lane
to the road。 There they stood upright and pushed her off her
property。
Through half…blind eyes Helen saw them guarding the gateway；
ready to prevent her entrance。 She staggered down the road
to the village。 It seemed she made her way through a red
dimness that there was a congestion in her brain that
the distance to Mrs。 Cass's cottage was insurmountable。 But
she got there； to stagger up the path； to hear the old
woman's cry。 Dizzy； faint； sick； with a blackness enveloping
all she looked at； Helen felt herself led into the
sitting…room and placed in the big chair。
Presently sight and clearness of mind returned to her。 She
saw Roy； white as a sheet； questioning her with terrible
eyes。 The old woman hung murmuring over her； trying to
comfort her as well as fasten the disordered dress。
〃Four greasers packed me down the hill threw me off
my ranch into the road！〃 panted Helen。
She seemed to tell this also to her own consciousness and to
realize the mighty wave of danger that shook her whole body。
〃If I'd known I would have killed them！〃
She exclaimed that； full…voiced and hard； with dry； hot eyes
on her friends。 Roy reached out to take her hand； speaking
huskily。 Helen did not distinguish what he said。 The
frightened old woman knelt； with unsteady fingers fumbling
over the rents in Helen's dress。 The moment came when
Helen's quivering began to subside； when her blood quieted
to let her reason sway； when she began to do battle with her
rage； and slowly to take fearful stock of this consuming
peril that had been a sleeping tigress in her veins。
〃Oh； Miss Helen； you looked so turrible； I made sure you was
hurted；〃 the old woman was saying。
Helen gazed strangely at her bruised wrists； at the one
stocking that hung down over her shoe…top； at the rent I
which had bared her shoulder to the profane gaze of those
grinning； beady…eyed Mexicans。
〃My body's not