Page 37 (1/1)

"You're perfectly splendid!" cried Bo, ringingly She hite; her fingers were clenched; her eyes blazed

Dale appeared startled out of his gravity, and surprised, then pleased A sid, yet slightly tre Her hands were cold The horror of this revelation held her speechless But in her heart she echoed Bo's exclaratitude

"So far, then," resumed Dale, with a heavy breath of relief "No wonder you're upset I've a blunt way of talkin' Noe've thirty miles to ride on this Snowdrop road before we can turn off To-day sometime the rest of the boys--Roy, John, an' Hal--were to leave Shohich's a town farther on from Snowdrop They have my horses an' packs besides their own Soht, ht, because that 'dher hands helplessly

"Oh, have I no courage?" she whispered

"Nell, I' her sister

"I reckon that's natural," said Dale, as if excusing them "But, scared or not, you both brace up It's a bad job But I've done my best An' you'll be safer with dalena, or anywhere else, except your uncle's"

"Mr--Mr Dale," faltered Helen, with her tears falling, "don't think rateful I'm neither It's only I'm so--so shocked After all we hoped and expected--this--this--is such a--a terrible surprise"

"Never mind, Nell dear Let's take what comes," murmured Bo

"That's the talk," said Dale "You see, I've coh easy When we meet the boys we'll take to the horses an' the trails Can you ride?"

"Bo has been used to horses all her life and I ride fairly well," responded Helen The idea of riding quickened her spirit

"Good! We et you up to Pine Hello! What's that?"

Above the creaking, rattling, rolling roar of the stage Helen heard a rapid beat of hoofs A horse flashed by, galloping hard

Dale opened the door and peered out The stage rolled to a halt He stepped down and gazed ahead

"Joe, as that?" he queried

"Nary me An' Bill didn't know him, either," replied Joe "I seen hioin' past us Now he's runnin' again"