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"Oh! It's only--YOU!" she uttered, in withering scorn, to the one who knocked

Helen thought she could guess who that was

"How are you-all?" asked a drawling voice

"Well, Mister Carmichael, if that interests you--I'ly

"Ill! Aw no, now?"

"It's a fact If I don't die right off I'll have to be taken back to Missouri," said Bo, casually

"Are you goin' to ask ot somethin' to say to--"

"To ME? Well, you're not backward, I declare," retorted Bo

"Miss Rayner, I reckon it 'll be strange to you--findin' out I didn't coe was the deluded idea I had--that you entleman Come in, Mr Carmichael My sister is here"

The door closed as Helen turned round Carmichael stood just inside with his soazed at Bo his lean face seeed, it see, frank, alert, and careless cowboy traits hadof a man Helen knew just howall the co of the ranch that had fallen upon her shoulders

"Wal, I reckon you was deluded, all right--if you thought I'd crawl like them other lovers of yours," he said, with cool deliberation

Bo turned pale, and her eyes fairly blazed, yet even in what must have been her fury Helen saw aest delusion here is the way you flatter yourself," replied Bo, stingingly

"Me flatter myself? Nope You don't savvy me I'm shore hatin' myself these days"

"Small wonder I certainly hate you--with all my heart!"

At this retort the cowboy dropped his head and did not see Bo flaunt herself out of the room But he heard the door close, and then slowly ca "Bo's hot-te The meaner she treats me the more I love her," he replied, dejectedly

To Helen's first instinct of liking for this cowboy there had been added ad, faithful, developing character Carmichael's face and hands were red and chapped from winter winds; the leather of wrist-bands, belt, and boots was all worn shiny and thin; little streaks of dust fell fro cowboy, ready for a dance or lark or fight