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"Bo, he said a lot," replied Helen, reflectively "I'll tell you presently First I want to ask you--has Carmichael ever told you how he's helped me?"
"No! When I see hiht Nell, has he helped you?"
Helen s to be sincere, but she meant to keep her word to the cowboy The fact was that reflection had acquainted her with her indebtedness to Carmichael
"Bo, you've been so wild to ride half-broken s--and carry on with cowboys--and read--and sew--and keep your secrets that you've had no time for your sister or her troubles"
"Nell!" burst out Bo, in amaze and pain She flew to Helen and seized her hands "What 're you saying?"
"It's all true," replied Helen, thrilling and softening This sweet sister, once aroused, would be hard to resist Helen iined she should hold to her tone of reproach and severity
"Sure it's true," cried Bo, fiercely "But what's ot to do with the--the rest you said? Nell, are you keeping things froement to tell you my troubles"
"But I've--I've nursed uncle--sat up with hi lips
"Yes, you've been good to him"
"We've no other troubles, have we, Nell?"
"You haven't, but I have," responded Helen, reproachfully
"Why--why didn't you tell me?" cried Bo, passionately "What are they? Tell me now You must think me a--a selfish, hateful cat"
"Bo, I've had much to worry me--and the worst is yet to come," replied Helen Then she told Bo how co ranch--when the oas ill, testy, defective in old and notes, but could not or would not rehbor ranchers had just claims--when cowboys and sheep-herders were discontented, and wrangled areat herds of cattle and flocks of sheep had to be fed in winter--when supplies had to be continually freighted across a muddy desert and lastly, when an ene away the best hands with the end in view of deliberately taking over the property when the owner died Then Helen told how she had only that day realized the extent of Carmichael's advice and help and labor--how, indeed, he had been a brother to her--how-But at this juncture Bo buried her face in Helen's breast and began to cry wildly