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"Wal, now--" he began, hoarsely, and left off

"How's Roy?" queried Dale

"Lord knows I'e-lookin' Roy's had a little setback He got a shock to-day an' it throwed hiood for you to waste tiht But there's others as--For the land's sakes, Milt Dale, you fetched thet cougar back! Don't let him near ar ca up the path "You were sayin' somethin'--about others Is Miss Helen safe? Hurry!"

"Ride up to see her--an' waste no more time here"

Dale was quick in the saddle, followed by John, but the horses had to be severely punished to force the trot, which now did not leave Torn behind

The ride up to Auchincloss's ranch-house seemed endless to Dale Natives came out in the road to watch after he had passed Stern as Dale was in dos, he could not wholly subordinate histerrible anticipation of catastrophe But no e upon this nalorious fact of the present was that in a moment he would see Helen Rayner

There were saddled horses in the courtyard, but no riders A Mexican boy sat on the porch bench, in the seat where Dale reme sitting-room was open The scent of flowers, the uely to Dale His eyes diround, when he slid out of his saddle, seeht suddenly cleared A tight fullness at his throat made incoherent the words he said to the Mexican boy But they were understood, as the boy ran back around the house Dale knocked sharply and stepped over the threshold

Outside, John, true to his habits, was thinking, even in that moment of suspense, about the faithful, exhausted horses As he unsaddled theh up, wal, you've done somethin'!"

Then Dale heard a voice in another room, a step, a creak of the door It opened A wonized Helen But instead of the rich brown blooly limned on hisin anguish, and eyes that pierced his heart He could not speak