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"Kid," he exclai

alone here?"

She stopped instantly and glanced up, her face flushing in the light

strea forth from the open door of the Occidental

"I reckon I 'm alone here because I want to be," she returned,

defiantly "I ain't no slave How do you get up there?"

He extended his hand, and drew her up beside him into the shaded

corner "Well," he said, "tell me the truth"

"I 've quit, that's all, Bob I just couldn't stand for reforer, and so I 've come back here to you"

The man drew a deep breath "Did n't you like Mrs Herndon?"

"Oh, she 's all right enough, so far as that goes 'T ain't that; only

I just didn't like sohtened up, his voice growing stern "I 've

got to know the straight of this You say you like Mrs Herndon well

enough, but not soirl hesitated, drawing back a little froht from

the saloon fell directly across her face "Well," she declared,

slowly, "you see it had to be either her or--or you, Bob, and I 'd

rather it would be you"