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was riding a roan mustang with the lazy grace of his race。 But what
arrested Clarence's attention more than his picturesque person was
the narrow； flexible； long coil of gray horse…hair riata which hung
from his saddle…bow； but whose knotted and silver…beaded terminating
lash he was swirling idly in his narrow brown hand。 Clarence knew
and instantly recognized it as the ordinary fanciful appendage of a
gentleman rider； used for tethering his horse on lonely plains； and
always made the object of the most lavish expenditure of decoration
and artistic skill。 But he was as suddenly filled with a blind；
unreasoning sense of repulsion and fury； and lifted his eyes to the
man as he approached。 What the stranger saw in Clarence's blazing
eyes no one but himself knew； for his own became fixed and staring；
his sallow cheeks grew lanker and livid； his careless； jaunty
bearing stiffened into rigidity； and swerving his horse to one side
he suddenly passed Clarence at a furious gallop。 The young American
wheeled quickly； and for an instant his knees convulsively gripped
the flanks of his horse to follow。 But the next moment he recalled
himself； and with an effort began to collect his thoughts。 What was
he intending to do； and for what reason！ He had met hundreds of
such horsemen before； and caparisoned and accoutred like this； even
to the riata。 And he certainly was not dressed like either of the
mysterious horsemen whom he had overheard that moonlight evening。
He looked back； the stranger had already slackened his pace； and was
slowly disappearing。 Clarence turned and rode on his way。
CHAPTER IX。
Without disclosing the full extent of Jim's defection and desertion；
Clarence was able to truthfully assure the Hopkins family of his
personal safety； and to promise that he would continue his quest；
and send them further news of the absentee。 He believed it would be
found that Jim had been called away on some important business； but
that not daring to leave his new shanty exposed and temptingly
unprotected； he had made a virtue of necessity by selling it to his
neighbors； intending to build a better house on its site after his
return。 Having comforted Phoebe； and impulsively conceived further
plans for restoring Jim to her；happily without any recurrence of
his previous doubts as to his own efficacy as a special Providence；
he returned to the rancho。 If he thought again of Jim's defection
and Gilroy's warning； it was only to strengthen himself to a clearer
perception of his unselfish duty and singleness of purpose。 He
would give up brooding； apply himself more practically to the
management of the property； carry out his plans for the foundation
of a Landlords' Protective League for the southern counties； become
a candidate for the Legislature； and； in brief； try to fill Peyton's
place in the county as he had at the rancho。 He would endeavor to
become better acquainted with the half…breed laborers on the estate
and avoid the friction between them and the Americans； he was
conscious that he had not made that use of his early familiarity
with their ways and language which he might have done。 If；
occasionally； the figure of the young Spaniard whom he had met on
the lonely road obtruded itself on him； it was always with the
instinctive premonition that he would meet him again； and the
mystery of the sudden repulsion be in some way explained。 Thus
Clarence！ But the momentary impulse that had driven him to Fair
Plains； the eagerness to set his mind at rest regarding Susy and her
relatives； he had utterly forgotten。
Howbeit some of the energy and enthusiasm that he breathed into
these various essays made their impression。 He succeeded in forming
the Landlords' League； under a commission suggested by him the
straggling boundaries of Robles and the adjacent claims were
resurveyed； defined； and mutually protected； even the lawless
Gilroy； from extending an amused toleration to the young administrator；
grew to recognize and accept him； the peons and vacqueros began to
have faith in a man who acknowledged them sufficiently to rebuild
the ruined Mission Chapel on the estate； and save them the long
pilgrimage to Santa Inez on Sundays and saints' days； the San
Francisco priest imported from Clarence's old college at San Jose；
and an habitual guest at Clarence's hospitable board； was grateful
enough to fill his flock with loyalty to the young padron。
He had returned from a long drive one afternoon； and had just thrown
himself into an easy…chair with the comfortable consciousness of a
rest fairly earned。 The dull embers of a fire occasionally glowed
in the oven…like hearth； although the open casement of a window let
in the soft breath of the southwest trades。 The angelus had just
rung from the restored chapel； and； mellowed by distance； seemed to
Clarence to lend that repose to the wind…swept landscape that it had
always lacked。
Suddenly his quick ear detected the sound of wheels in the ruts of
the carriage way。 Usually his visitors to the casa came on
horseback； and carts and wagons used only the lower road。 As the
sound approached nearer； an odd fancy filled his heart with
unaccountable pleasure。 Could it be Mrs。 Peyton making an
unexpected visit to the rancho？ He held his breath。 The vehicle
was now rolling on into the patio。 The clatter of hoofs and a halt
were followed by the accents of women's voices。 One seemed
familiar。 He rose quickly； as light footsteps ran along the
corridor； and then the door opened impetuously to the laughing face
of Susy！
He came towards her hastily； yet with only the simple impulse of
astonishment。 He had no thought of kissing her； but as he
approached； she threw her charming head archly to one side； with a
mischievous knitting of her brows and a significant gesture towards
the passage； that indicated the proximity of a stranger and the
possibility of interruption。
〃Hush！ Mrs。 McClosky's here；〃 she whispered。
〃Mrs。 McClosky？〃 repeated Clarence vaguely。
〃Yes； of course；〃 impatiently。 〃My Aunt Jane。 Silly！ We just cut
away down here to surprise you。 Aunty's never seen the place； and
here was a good chance。〃
〃And your motherMrs。 Peyton？ Has shedoes she？〃stammered
Clarence。
〃Has shedoes she？〃 mimicked Susy； with increasing impatience。
〃Why； of course she DOESN'T know anything about it。 She thinks I'm
visiting Mary Rogers at Oakland。 And I amAFTERWARDS；〃 she
laughed。 〃I just wrote to Aunt Jane to meet me at Alameda； and we
took the stage to Santa Inez and drove on here in a buggy。 Wasn't
it real fun？ Tell me； Clarence！ You don't say anything！ Tell me
wasn't it real fun？〃
This was all so like her old； childlike； charming； irresponsible
self； that Clarence； troubled and bewildered as he was； took her
hands and drew her like a child towards him。
〃Of course；〃 she went on； yet stopping to smell a rosebud in his
button