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He had begun to show signs of weakness, and Helen, rising at once, said that she and Bo had better leave him then, but would coain with Mrs Cass, and after a few reered in the doorway

"Wal, Cheer up, you old Mormon!" he called

"Cheer up yourself, you cross old bachelor!" retorted Roy, quite unnecessarily loud "Can't you raise enough nerve to make up with Bo?"

Carmichael evacuated the doorway as if he had been spurred He was quite red in the face while he unhitched the tea the ride up to the ranch-house There he got down and followed the girls into the sitting rooh not sullen, and had fully regained his composure

"Did you find out who shot Roy?" he asked, abruptly, of Helen

"Yes But I promised Roy I would not tell," replied Helen, nervously She averted her eyes fro his next query

"Was it thet--Riggs?"

"Las Vegas, don't ask me I will not break my promise"

He strode to theand looked out a moment, and presently, when he turned toward Bo, he see man, with all his emotions under control

"Bo, will you listen to me--if I swear to speak the truth--as I know it?"

"Why, certainly," replied Bo, with the color co swiftly to her face

"Roy doesn't want me to know because he wants to meet thet fellar himself An' I want to know because I want to stop him before he can do more dirt to us or our friends Thet's Roy's reason an' htn't," replied Bo, haltingly

"Did you promise Roy not to tell?"

"No"

"Or your sister?"

"No I didn't promise either"

"Wal, then you tell me I want you to trust me in this here matter But not because I love you an' once had a wild dreaht care a little for me--"

"Oh--Tom!" faltered Bo

"Listen I want you to trust me because I'm the one who knohat's best I wouldn't lie an' I wouldn't say so if I didn't know shore I swear Dale will back ot to be bluffed You ought to see this I reckon you've been quick in savvyin' Western ways I couldn't pay you no higher compliment, Bo Rayner Noill you tell me?"