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Helen's eyes asked what her lips refused to utter

"He's goin' after Dale I sent hione hunter"

Roy had averted his gaze quickly to Bo

"Don't you agree with me, lass?"

"I sure do," replied Bo, heartily

All within Helen had been stilled for the moment of her realization; and then ca of a tide at its restraint

"Can John--fetch Dale out--when the snow's so deep?" she asked, unsteadily

"Shore He's takin' two hosses up to the snow-line Then, if necessary, he'll go over the pass on snow-shoes But I bet hione except on the north slopes an' on the peaks"

"Then--when may I--we expect to see Dale?"

"Three or four days, I reckon I wish he was here now Miss Helen, there's trouble afoot"

"I realize that I'as tell you about Beasley's visit to an to acquaint him with the circumstances of that visit, and before she had finished sheto himself

"He asked you to marry him! Jerusalem! Thet I'd never have reckoned The--lon coyote of a greaser! Wal, Miss Helen, when I ht he was shore spoilin' from somethin'; now I see what thet was An' I reckon I picked out the bad time"

"For what? Roy, what did you do?"

"Wal, I'd made up my mind awhile back to talk to Beasley the first chance I had An' thet was it I was in the store when I seen hio into Turner's So I followed It was 's an' Mulvey an' soht then"

"Roy! Oh, the way you boys court danger!"

"But, Miss Helen, thet's the only way To be afraid MAKES h first off Hiin' after us, till we got over in a corner of the saloon I don't know all I said to hiht An' Beasley knowed as well as I thet my old man's not only the oldest inhabitant hereabouts, but he's the wisest, too An' he wouldn't tell a lie Wal, I used all his sayin's in ument to show Beasley thet if he didn't haul up short he'd end almost as short Beasley's thick-headed, an' powerful conceited Vain as a peacock! He couldn't see, an' he got h without robbin' you of your ranch, an'--wal, I shore put up a big talk for your side By this ti had et cold feet But I was in it an' had to uht for you when thet fight come off An' I shore told him for my own sake I wished it 'd come off quick Then--wal--then somethin' did come off quick!"