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"A reasonable goat!" Dick reined up till the other horse was abreast of his, then dived into his pocket and handed Steve a letter "She's quit taking any interest in me, has she? Don't know I' me a letter this very day"

Steve turned the square envelope around and weighed it in his hand

"Am I to read this here billy doo?" he wanted to know

"Yes, sir"

Gravely the old s to inform Mr Gordon that she has reason to fear Mr Gordon's life is not safe in the present feeling of the country Out of regard for her people, whoret to see in trouble, Miss Valdés would recommend Mr Gordon to cut short his pleasure trip to New Mexico Otherwise Miss Valdés declines any responsibility for the result"

"Can't be called very affectionate, can it?" was Mr Davis's com with a poker down her back?"

"I didn't say it was affectionate," snorted the young ht she was in love with you"

"I didn't say or think anything of the kind," protested Dick indignantly "I said she hadn't forgotten me"

"Well, she ain't, if that's any comfort"

With which, Mr Davis handed back the letter "What did you answer to the billy doo?"

"I said that Mr Gordon presented his coe business interests in this part of the country that necessitated a visit of soth, and probably in the end a permanent residence here; and that he would very fully absolve Miss Valdés of any responsibility for his re"

"Both of you used up a heap of dictionary words; but that wasn't so bad, either," grinned Steve "You got back at her, all right, for the 'pleasure trip' part of her letter, but I expect you and she would disagree as to what that 'permanent residence' means I hope it won't be more permanent than you think"

Fro rifle Dick's hat was lifted froht sight of a slioes," cried Dick; and he slid from his saddle and took up the chase

"Come back There may be several of them up there," called the oldleft to do but follow him up the rocky hillside