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He concluded with a gulp, and looked at Helen oe in his eyes

"Oh! What did Bo do?" breathlessly queried Helen

"She slapped me," he replied "An' then she says, I did like you best, but NOW I hate you!' An' she slareather forgiveness But I reckon I don't What's more, I feel better than before I'ood till I ot to havin' hopes, studyin' books, an' you kno I've been lookin' into this ranchin' game I stopped drinkin' an' saved my money Wal, she knows all thet Once she said she was proud ofwith her An' if it can't count big I don't want it to count at all I reckon the ot She knows I love her--thet I'd die for her--thet I'ht of darin' to touch her hand An' she knows she flirted with Turner"

"She's only a child," replied Helen "And all this change--the West--the wildness--and you boysmuch of her--why, it's turned her head But Bo will coold"

"I reckon I know, an' my faith can't be shook," rejoined Carht to believe thet she'll irls are scarce An' one like Bo--Lord! boys never seen none to compare with her She'll make bad blood an' soes her," said Helen, apprehensively "It tickles him to hear how the boys are after her Oh, she doesn't tell him But he hears And I, who must stand in mother's place to her, what can I do?"

"Miss Nell, are you onand eleht in the toils of soht have hesitated at that question But to-day Care depth of rugged sincerity, as if she had learned his future worth

"Yes, I am," Helen replied, earnestly And she offered her hand

"Wal, then it 'll shore turn out happy," he said, squeezing her hand His s in it of the victory he hinted at Soone "An' noant to tell you why I come"