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"I'll go down and meet Jack," he said

"We'll do a lot of stunts if you're willing," Cartwell said serenely, his eyes following DeWitt's broad back inscrutably "The desert is like a story-book if one learns to read it If you would be interested to learn, I would be keen to teach you"

Rhoda's gray eyes lifted to the young ," she said "But I--I didn't used to be! Truly I didn't! I used to be so alive, so strong! I believed in everything,at her lack of reticence

Cartwell, however, was looking at her with so that Rhoda smiled It was a slow smile that lifted and deepened the corners of Rhoda's lips, that darkened her gray eyes to black, an unforgetable smile to the loveliness of which Rhoda's friends never could accustoht of it, Cartwell drew a deep breath, then leaned toward her and spoke with curious earnestness

"You ht on the desert makes me feel"

Rhoda replied in astonishment, "Why, you mustn't speak that way to ested Cartwell "What difference does that make, between you and me?"

Again caaze He was looking at her with so of sternness and determination in the clean-cut lips Rhoda wondered, afterward, ould have been said if Katherine had not chosen this moment to come out on the porch

"Rhoda," she asked, "do you feel like dressing for dinner? Hello, Kut-le, it's time you moved toward soap and water, seems to me!"

"Yessum!" replied Cartwell meekly He rose and helped Rhoda from the hamed from the orchard as he crossed to Katherine's chair

"Is she very sick, Mrs Jack?" he asked

Katherine nodded soberly

"Desperately sick Her father and o Rhoda wasn't seriously hurt but she has never gotten over the shock She has been failing ever since The doctor feared consu by inches Oh, it's too awful! I can't believe it! I can't realize it!"

Cartwell stood in silence for a moment, his lips compressed, his eyes inscrutable

Then, "I've met her at last," he said "It makes me believe in Fate"

Katherine's pretty lips parted in aasped