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"Now, miss, I've supper ready," he said, "an' I was reckonin' you'd

like me to fetch yours"

"Yes, thank you, I would," replied Joan

In a fewthe top of a box upon which

were stea pans and cups He handed this rude tray up to Joan

"Shore I'm a first-rate cook, miss, when I've soed his hard face

She returned the smile with her thanks Evidently Kells had a well-

filled larder, and as Joan had fared on coarse and hard food for

long, this supper was a luxury and exceedingly appetizing While she

was eating, the blanket curtain moved aside and Kells appeared He

dropped it behind him, but did not step up into the room He was in

his shirt-sleeves, had been clean shaven, and looked a different

man

"How do you like your--home?" he inquired, with a hint of his forrateful for the privacy," she replied

"You think you could be worse off, then?"

"I know it"

"Suppose Gulden kills --and takes you?

There's a story about him, the worst I've heard on this border I'll