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"And what's--that?" faltered Helen

"I want hie--soart, four-flush that he is And insulted, slapped, kicked--driven out of Pine!"

Her passionate speech still rang throughout the room when there came footsteps on the porch Helen hurried to raise the bar from the door and open it just as a tap sounded on the door-post Roy's face stood white out of the darkness His eyes were bright And his smile made Helen's fearful query needless

"How are you-all this evenin'?" he drawled, as he came in

A fire blazed on the hearth and a laer-eyed as she reclined in the big ar force

"Wal, now, ain't you goin' to tell ht to be in bed, but I just couldn't sleep till I hear what Las Vegas did I'd forgive anything except hi drunk"

"Wal, I shore can ease your mind on thet," replied Roy "He never drank a drop"

Roy was distractingly slow about beginning the tale any child could have guessed he was eager to tell For once the hard, intent quietness, the soul of labor, pain, and endurance so plain in his face was softened by pleasurable es with the toe of his boot Helen observed that he had changed his boots and noore no spurs Then he had gone to his quarters after whatever had happened down in Pine

"Where IS he?" asked Bo

"Who? Riggs? Wal, I don't know But I reckon he's sos First tell as I just left hiettin' ready for bed, early as it is All tired out he was an' thet white you wouldn't have knowed him But he looked happy at thet, an' the last words he said, ent, but if she doesn't call ood!'"

Bo actually clapped her hands, notwithstanding that one of theed

"Call hiht "Hurry nohat 'd--"