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sixguns are popping； breaks up a likely feud and mends right neatly all the
ventilated feudists it's a corollary to her fun that's she is going to become
famous。〃
What he said was true enough。 The unsolicited notoriety her exploit
had brought upon her had been its chief penalty。 Garbled versions of it had
appeared with fake pictures in New York and Chicago Sunday
supplements； and all Cattleland had heard and discussed it。 No matter into
what unfrequented canon she rode； some silent cowpuncher would look at
her as they met with admiring eyes behind which she read a knowledge of
the story。 It was a lonely desolate country； full of the wide deep silences of
utter emptiness； yet there could be no footfall but the whisper of it was
bruited on the wings of the wind。
〃Do you know where the Lazy D ranch is from here？〃 she asked。
He nodded。
〃Can you take me home？〃
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〃I surely can。 But not to…night。 You're more tired than y'u know。 We'll
camp here； and in the mo'ning we'll hit the trail bright and early。〃
This did not suit her at all。 〃Is it far to the Lazy D？〃 she inquired
anxiously。
〃Every inch of forty miles。 There's a creek not more than two hundred
yards from here。 We'll stay there till morning；〃 he made answer in a matter
of course voice； leading the way to the place he had mentioned。
She followed； protesting。 Yet though it was not in accord with her
civilized sense of fitness； she knew that what he proposed was the
common sense solution。 She was tired and worn out； and she could see
that his broncho had traveled far。
Having reached the bank of the creek； he unsaddled； watered his horse
and picketed it； and started a fire。 Uneasily she watched him。
〃I don't like to sleep out。 Isn't there a ranchhouse near？〃
〃Y'u wouldn't call it near by the time we had reached it。 What's to
hinder your sleeping here？ Isn't this room airy enough？ And don't y'u like
the system of lighting？ 'Twas patented I forget how many million years
ago。 Y'u ain't going to play parlor girl now after getting the reputation
y'u've got for gameness； are y'u？〃
But he knew well enough that it was no silly schoolgirl fear she had；
but some deep instinct in her that distrusted him and warned her to beware。
So； lightly he took up the burden of the talk while he gathered cottonwood
branches for the fire。
〃Now if I'd only thought to bring a load of lumber and some
carpentersand a chaperon；〃 he chided himself in burlesque； his bold eyes
closely on the girl's face to gloat on the color that flew to her cheeks at his
suggestion。
She hastened to disclaim lightly the feeling he had unmasked in her。
〃It is a pity； but it can't be helped now。 I suppose I am cross and don't seem
very grateful。 I'm tired out and nervous； but I am sure that I'll enjoy
sleeping out。 If I don't I shall not be so ungenerous as to blame you。〃
He soon had a cup of steaming coffee ready for her； and the heat of it
made a new woman of her。 She sat in the warm fire glow； and began to
feel stealing over her a delightful reaction of languor。 She told herself
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severely it was ridiculous to have been so foolishly prim about the
inevitable。
〃Since you know my name； isn't it fair that I should know yours？〃 she
smilingly asked； more amiably than she had yet spoken to him。
〃Well； since I have found the lamb that was lost； y'u may call me a
shepherd of the desert。〃
〃Then； Mr。 Shepherd； I'm very glad to meet you。 I don't remember
when I ever was more glad to meet a stranger。〃 And she added with a little
laugh： 〃It's a pity I'm too sleepy to do my duty by you in a social way。〃
〃We'll let that wait till to…morrow。 Y'u'll entertain me plenty then。 I'll
make your bunk up right away。〃
She was presently lying with her feet to the fire； snugly rolled in his
saddle blankets。 But though her eyes were heavy； her brain was still too
active to permit her to sleep immediately。 The excitement of her adventure
was too near； the emotions of the day too poignantly vivid； to lose their
hold on her at once。 For the first time in her life she lay lapped in the
illimitable velvet night； countless unwinking stars lighting the blue…black
dream in which she floated。 The enchantment of the night's loveliness
swept through her sensitive pulses and thrilled her with the mystery of the
great life of which she was an atom。 Awe held her a willing captive。
She thought of many things； of her past life and its incongruity with
the present； of the man who lay wounded at the Lazy D； of this other
wide…shouldered vagabond who was just now in the shadows beyond the
firelight； pacing up and down with long； light even strides as he looked to
his horse and fed the fire。 She watched him make an end of the things he
found to do and then take his place opposite her。 Who and what was he；
this fascinating scamp who one moment flooded the moonlit desert with
inspired snatches from the opera sung in the voice of an angel； and the
next lashed at his horse like a devil incarnate？ How reconcile the
outstanding inconsistencies in him？ For his every inflection； every motion；
proclaimed the strain of good blood gone wrong and trampled under foot
of set； sardonic purpose； indicated him a man of culture in a hell of his
own choosing。 Lounging on his elbow in the flickering shadows； so
carelessly insouciant in every picturesque inch of him； he seemed to
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radiate the melodrama of the untamed frontier； just as her guest of
tarnished reputation now at the ranch seemed to breathe forth its romance。
〃Sleep well； little partner。 Don't be afraid； nothing can harm you；〃 this
man had told her。
Promptly she had answered； 〃I'm not afraid； thank you； in the least〃；
and after a mornent had added； not to seem hostile； 〃Good night； big
partner。〃
But despite her calm assurance she knew she did not feel so entirely
safe as if it had been one of her own ranch boys on the other side of the
fire； or even that other vagabond who had made so direct an appeal to her
heart。 If she were not afraid； at least she knew some vague hint of anxiety。
She was still thinking of him when she fell asleep； and when she
awakened the first sound that fell on her ears was his tuneful whistle。
Indeed she had an indistinct memory of him in the night； wrapping the
blankets closer about her when the chill air had half stirred her from her
slumber。 The day was still very young； but the abundant desert light
dismissed sleep summarily。 She shook and brushed the wrinkles out of her
clothes and went down to the creek to wash her face with the inadequate
facilities at hand。 After redressing her hair she returned to the fire； upon
which a coffee pot was already simmering。
She came up noiselessly behind him； but his trained senses were
apprised of her approach。
〃Good mo'ning！ How did y'u find your bedroom？〃 he asked； without
turning from the bacon he was broiling on the end of a stick。
〃Quite up to the specifications。 With all Wyoming for a floor and the
sky for a ceiling； I never had a room I liked better。 But have you eyes in
the back of your head？〃
He laughed grimly。 〃I have to be all eyes and ears in my business。〃
〃Is your business of a nature so sensitive？〃
〃As much so as stocks on Wall Street。 And we haven't any ticker to
warn us to get under cover。 Do you take cream in your coffee； Miss
Messiter？〃
She looked round in surprise。 〃Cream？〃
〃We're in tin…can land； you know； and live on air…tights。 I milk my cow
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