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"Nix I footed theoin' to," he said "An' frolared his reception of this opposition Perhaps his sense of fairness actuated him once more, for he ordered Shady and Moze out to do their share

"Jio," suggested Anson "You allus used to be the first one off"

"Tied, Snake," was the io?" demanded the leader, impatiently

"I shore won't"

Wilson did not look or intiirl in ca, but the truth was as significant as if he had shouted it The slow-thinking Moze gave Wilson a sinister look

"Boss, ain't it funny how a pretty wench--?" began Shady Jones, sarcastically

"Shut up, you fool!" broke in Anson "Coone Burt took his rifle and strolled off into the forest Then the girl appeared Her hair was down, her face pale, with dark shadows She asked for water to wash her face Wilson pointed to the brook, and as she walked slowly toward it he took a comb and a clean scarf from his pack and carried them to her

Upon her return to the caed and the red stains in her cheeks

"Miss, air you hungry?" asked Wilson

"Yes, I am," she replied

He helped her to portions of bread, venison and gravy, and a cup of coffee Evidently she relished the meat, but she had to force down the rest

"Where are they all?" she asked

"Rustlin' the hosses"

Probably she divined that he did not want to talk, for the fleeting glance she gave hied Presently she sought a seat under the aspen-tree, out of the sun, and the s in her face; and there she stayed, a forlorn little figure, for all the resolute lips and defiant eyes

The Texan paced to and fro beside the camp-fire with bent head, and hands locked behind hiun he would have resembled a lanky farmer, coatless and hatless, with his brown vest open, his trousers stuck in the top of the high boots

And neither he nor the girl changed their positions relatively for a long ti into the woods, and listening, he reirl that he would be back in a moment, and then walked off around the spruces