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"We'll see how things are after we get settled," said Roger, carefully "Have a cigar and tell me how you came to know Mr Werner"

"I clerked by a bank he vas interested in," replied Scher and Ernest liked him at once, from his stiff brown pompadour and kindly blue eyes behind his spectacles to his strong, capable looking hands Before they parted for the night it was agreed that Schht Austin had warned theet in the desert and this see to do

The sun had not risen the next on and started along the trail Hackett had carefully described for theht or ten e man, were cut with draws and streith heavy rocks But the air was like a northern May The cactus was full of singing northern birds preparing for their springThe mountains lifted in colors ever er satisfactory beyond expression

"I think it's beautiful, Ern," he said at last

"Gad, I don't," replied Ernest, wiping sand out of his eyes

"I do!" cried Felicia, jouncing up and down on the wagon seat between the men She was powdered white with sand "Charley will c'lapse when she seesThe tenderfoot drivers let them have their oay Hackett had tried to describe certain lande the distance covered, but with ser All points of the desert looked alike to the enough, they would strike Prebles' late that night

Just at sundown, however, Roger pulled in the horses "That trail's getting awfully faint," he said

"Sand's drifted like snow across it," agreed Ernest "In fact, there hasn't been any trail for the last mile But we can't ht angles anyhow to us, as it ought to be"

Roger started the horses on, but after a short ti on till we locate the trail," he announced

"What are you going to do? Not stay here all night," protested Ernest

"You bet I aht now We won't be able to find the trail until daylight"