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Later in the day Helen rode to the parade grounds； toward which a
stream of cattle was pouring down the canyon of the creek。 Every gulch
tributary to the creek contributed its quota of wild cows and calves。 These
came romping down the canyon mouth； where four picked men； with a
bunch of tame cows in front of them； stopped the rush of flying cattle。
Lunch was omitted； and branding began at once。 Every calf belonging to a
Lazy D cow； after being roped and tied； was flanked with the great D
which indicated its ownership by Miss Messiter； and on account of the
recumbent position of which letter the ranch had its name。
It was during the branding that a boyish young fellow rode up and
handed Helen a note。 Her heart pumped rapidly with relief； for one glance
told her that it was in the handwriting of the Ned Bannister she loved。 She
tore it open and glanced swiftly through it。
DEAR FRIEND： Two hours ago my cousin was killed by one of his
own men。 I am sending back to you a boy who had been led astray by him；
and it would be a great service to me if you would give him something to
do till I return。 His name is Hugh Rogers。 I think if you trust him he will
prove worthy of it。
Jim and I are going to stay here a few days longer to finish the work
that is begun。 We hope to meet and talk with as many of the men
implicated in my cousin's lawlessness as is possible。 What the result will
be I cannot say。 We do not consider ourselves in any danger whatever；
though we are not taking chances。 If all goes well we shall be back within
a few days。
I hope you are not missing Jim too much at the roundup。 Sincerely；
NED BANNISTER
She liked the letter because there was not a hint of the relationship
between them to be read in it。 He had guarded her against the chance of its
falling into the wrong hands and creating talk about them。
She turned to Hughie。 〃Can you ride？〃
〃In a way； ma'am。 I can't ride like these men。〃 His glance indicated a
cow…puncher pounding past after a wild steer that had broken through the
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cordon of riders and was trying to get away。
〃Do you want to learn？〃
〃I'd like to if I had a chance；〃 he answered wistfully。
〃All right。 You have your chance。 I'll see that Mr。 Austin finds
something for you to do。 From to…day you are in my employ。〃
She rode back to the ranch in the late afternoon； while the sun was
setting in a great splash of crimson。 The round…up boss had hinted that if
she were nervous about riding alone he could find it convenient to
accompany her。 But the girl wanted to be alone with her own thoughts；
and she had slipped away while he was busy cutting out calves from the
herd。 It had been a wonderful relief to her to find that HER Ned Bannister
was the one that had survived in the conflict； and her heart sang a paean of
joy as she rode into the golden glow of the westering sun。 He was aliveto
love and be loved。 The unlived years of her future seemed to unroll before
her as a vision。 She glowed with a resurgent happiness that was almost an
ecstasy。 The words of a bit of verse she had once seena mere scrap from
a magazine that had stuck in an obscure corner of her memorysang again
and again in her heart：
Life and love And a bright sky o'er us； AndGod take care Of the way
before us！
Ah； the way before them； before her and her romance…radiating hero！
It might he rough and hilly； but if they trod it together Her tangled
thoughts were off again in another glad leap of imagination。
The days passed somehow。 She busied herself with the affairs of the
ranch； rode out often to the scenes of the cattle drives and watched the
round…up； and every twenty…four hours brought her one day nearer to his
return； she told herself。 Nora； too； was on the lookout under her longlashed；
roguish eyelids； and the two young women discussed the subject of their
lovers' return in that elusive； elliptical way common to their sex。
No doubt each of these young women had conjectured as to the
manner of that homecoming and the meeting that would accompany it； but
it is safe to say that neither of them guessed in her day…dreams how it
actually was to occur。
Nora had been eager to see something of the round…up； and as she was
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no horsewoman her mistress took her out one day in her motor。 The drive
had been that day on Bronco Mesa； and had finished in the natural corral
made by Bear Canon； fenced with a cordon of riders at the end opening to
the plains below。 After watching for two hours the busy scenes of cutting
out； roping and branding； Helen wheeled her car and started down the
canyon on their return。
Now； a herd of wild cattle is uncertain as an April day's behavior。
Under the influence of the tame valley cattle among which they are driven；
after a little milling around； the whole bunch may gentle almost
immediately； or； on the other hand； it may break through and go crashing
away on a wild stampede at a moment's notice。 Every experienced
cowman knows enough to expect the unexpected。
At Bronco Mesa the round…up had proceeded with unusual facility。
Scores of wiry； long…legged steers had drifted down the ridges or gulches
that led to the canon； and many a cow； followed by its calf； had stumbled
forward to the herd and apparently accepted the inevitable。 But before
Helen Messiter had well started out of the canyon's mouth the situation
changed absolutely。
A big hill steer； which had not seen a man for a year； broke through the
human corral with a bellow near a point where Reddy kept guard。 The
puncher wheeled and gave chase； Before the other men could close the
opening a couple of two…year…olds seized the opportunity and followed its
lead。 A second rider gave chase； and at once； as if some imp of mischief
had stirred them； fifty tails went up in wild flight。 Another minute and the
whole herd was in stampede。
Down the gulch the five hundred cattle thundered toward the motor car；
which lay directly in