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"I--I--don't want--to hear--any ot to hear it," replied Helen, inexorably "I want you to kno he's stood by me"

"But I hate him"

"Bo, I suspect that's not true"

"I do--I do"

"Well, you act and talk very strangely then"

"Nell Rayner--are--you--you sticking up for that--that devil?"

"I am, yes, so far as it concerns my conscience," rejoined Helen, earnestly "I never appreciated him as he deserved--not until now He's a row up to that in threewithout hi I--"

"I'll bet--he's made love--to you, too," replied Bo, woefully

"Talk sense," said Helen, sharply "He has been a brother to ht have appreciated it more than you"

Bo raised her face, flushed in part and also pale, with tear-wet cheeks and the telltale blaze in the blue eyes

"I've been wild about that fellow But I hate hio on hating hiraphically related how Carmichael had offered to kill Beasley, as the only way to save her property, and hohen she refused, that he threatened he would do it anyhow

Bo fell over with a gasp and clung to Helen

"Oh--Nell! Oh, now I love hie and despair

Helen clasped her closely and tried to comfort her as in the old days, not so very far back, when troubles were not so serious as now

"Of course you love hilad But you've been wilful--foolish You wouldn't surrender to it You wanted your fling with the other boys You're--Oh, Bo, I fear you have been a sad little flirt"

"I--I wasn't very bad till--till he got bossy Why, Nell, he acted--right off--just as if he OWNED me But he didn't And to show him--I--I really did flirt with that Turner fellow Then he--he insulted me Oh, I hate him!"

"Nonsense, Bo You can't hate any one while you love him," protested Helen

"Much you know about that," flashed Bo "You just can! Look here Did you ever see a cowboy rope and throw and tie up a mean horse?"