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Roger continued to stare at Charley as if he never had seen her before After a moment he said in a half-whisper, "By Jove, I believe you are a friend to h to tell me the truth as you see it, which Ernest never had And he's been ht, perhaps part of the fault has been with myself O Lord, Charley! I do need some one to tell me the truth, I certainly do"

Charley put out her hand to lay it on Roger's shoulder

"Poor child!" she said, softly

In a ain, back at hishimself forward on his knees, buried his head in Charley's lap She laid her hand on his head with the touch that had been his ain And for the first tier burst into tears

Charley, ser sheepishly raised his head and pulled out a very dirty handkerchief

Then she said in a very matter-of-fact voice, "By the way, as soon as the storm let up a little, I had Ernest take Gustav up to the ranch I can take care of hier"

"Where's Felicia?" asked Roger

"She's asleep in the tent, I must wake her up and take her home now The storm is over"

"Leave her withher hoht, coer nodded and Charley started along the drifted trail to the ranch while Roger went to the tent Felicia slept on while he shaved and put the tent in order Then he stooped over the cot and raised her

"Suppertime, little sweetheart," he said

Felicia ith a start "Don't be cross, Roger," she exclai at him for an instant

"I couldn't be cross with you, Felicia," Roger lifted her in his arer?"

"Never, Felicia You must never be afraid of me, even when I scold other people Because I love you very er's neck and they both looked off to the ranch house, where the s glowed red in the sunset There was soer in Felicia's eled iry

"We'll head for supper," he said, and putting her down he took her hand and they started through the sand for the ranch and Charley Gustav aiting for thee of the corral