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Isbel walked to his horse and appeared to be untying something from
the back of his saddle。 When he came back Ellen saw that he carried
a small package apparently wrapped in paper。 With this under his arm
he strode off in the direction of Ellen's camp and soon disappeared in
the forest。
For a little while Ellen lay there in bewilderment。 If she had made
conjectures before； they were now multiplied。 Where was Jean Isbel
going？ Ellen sat up suddenly。 〃Well； shore this heah beats me；〃
she said。 〃What did he have in that package？ What was he goin'
to do with it？ 〃
It took no little will power to hold her there when she wanted to
steal after him through the woods and find out what he meant。 But his
reputation influenced even her and she refused to pit her cunning in
the forest against his。 It would be better to wait until he returned
to his horse。 Thus decided； she lay back again in her covert and gave
her mind over to pondering curiosity。 Sooner than she expected she
espied Isbel approaching through the forest； empty handed。 He had not
taken his rifle。 Ellen averted her glance a moment and thrilled to see
the rifle leaning against a rock。 Verily Jean Isbel had been far removed
from hostile intent that day。 She watched him stride swiftly up to his
horse； untie the halter； and mount。 Ellen had an impression of his
arrowlike straight figure； and sinuous grace and ease。 Then he looked
back at the promontory； as if to fix a picture of it in his mind； and
rode away along the Rim。 She watched him out of sight。 What ailed her？
Something was wrong with her； but she recognized only relief。
When Isbel had been gone long enough to assure Ellen that she might
safely venture forth she crawled through the pine thicket to the Rim
on the other side of the point。 The sun was setting behind the Black
Range； shedding a golden glory over the Basin。 Westward the zigzag Rim
reached like a streamer of fire into the sun。 The vast promontories
jutted out with blazing beacon lights upon their stone…walled faces。
Deep down； the Basin was turning shadowy dark blue； going to sleep
for the night。
Ellen bent swift steps toward her camp。 Long shafts of gold preceded
her through the forest。 Then they paled and vanished。 The tips of
pines and spruces turned gold。 A hoarse…voiced old turkey gobbler was
booming his chug…a…lug from the highest ground； and the softer chick of
hen turkeys answered him。 Ellen was almost breathless when she arrived。
Two packs and a couple of lop…eared burros attested to the fact of
Antonio's return。 This was good news for Ellen。 She heard the bleat
of lambs and tinkle of bells coming nearer and nearer。 And she was glad
to feel that if Isbel had visited her camp； most probably it was during
the absence of the herders。
The instant she glanced into her tent she saw the package Isbel had
carried。 It lay on her bed。 Ellen stared blankly。 〃Thethe impudence
of him！〃 she ejaculated。 Then she kicked the package out of the tent。
Words and action seemed to liberate a dammed…up hot fury。 She kicked
the package again； and thought she would kick it into the smoldering
camp…fire。 But somehow she stopped short of that。 She left the thing
there on the ground。
Pepe and Antonio hove in sight； driving in the tumbling woolly flock。
Ellen did not want them to see the package； so with contempt for herself；
and somewhat lessening anger； she kicked it back into the tent。 What
was in it？ She peeped inside the tent； devoured by curiosity。 Neat；
well wrapped and tied packages like that were not often seen in the
Tonto Basin。 Ellen decided she would wait until after supper； and at
a favorable moment lay it unopened on the fire。 What did she care what
it contained？ Manifestly it was a gift。 She argued that she was highly
incensed with this insolent Isbel who had the effrontery to approach her
with some sort of present。
It developed that the usually cheerful Antonio had returned taciturn
and gloomy。 All Ellen could get out of him was that the job of sheep
herder had taken on hazards inimical to peace…loving Mexicans。 He had
heard something he would not tell。 Ellen helped prepare the supper and
she ate in silence。 She had her own brooding troubles。 Antonio
presently told her that her father had said she was not to start back
home after dark。 After supper the herders repaired to their own tents；
leaving Ellen the freedom of her camp…fire。 Wherewith she secured the
package and brought it forth to burn。 Feminine curiosity rankled strong
in her breast。 Yielding so far as to shake the parcel and press it；
and finally tear a comer off the paper； she saw some words written in
lead pencil。 Bending nearer the blaze； she read； 〃For my sister Ann。〃
Ellen gazed at the big； bold hand…writing； quite legible and fairly well
done。 Suddenly she tore the outside wrapper completely off。 From
printed words on the inside she gathered that the package had come
from a store in San Francisco。 〃Reckon he fetched home a lot of
presents for his folksthe kidsand his sister；〃 muttered Ellen。
〃That was nice of him。 Whatever this is he shore meant it for sister
Ann。 。 。 。 Ann Isbel。 Why； she must be that black…eyed girl I met and
liked so well before I knew she was an Isbel。 。 。 。 His sister！〃
Whereupon for the second time Ellen deposited the fascinating package
in her tent。 She could not burn it up just then。 She had other
emotions besides scorn and hate。 And memory of that soft…voiced；
kind…hearted； beautiful Isbel girl checked her resentment。 〃I wonder
if he is like his sister；？' she said； thoughtfully。 It appeared to
be an unfortunate thought。 Jean Isbel certainly resembled his sister。
〃Too bad they belong to the family that ruined dad。〃
Ellen went to bed without opening the package or without burning it。
And to her annoyance； whatever way she lay she appeared to touch this
strange package。 There was not much room in the little tent。 First
she put it at her head beside her rifle； but when she turned over her
cheek came in contact with it。 Then she felt as if she had been stung。
She moved it again； only to touch it presently with her hand。 Next she
flung it to the bottom of her bed； where it fell upon her feet； and
whatever way she moved them she could not escape the pressure of this
undesirable and mysterious gift。
By and by she fell asleep； only to dream that the package was a
caressing hand stealing about her； feeling for hers； and holding it
with soft； strong clasp。 When she awoke she had the strangest
sensation in her right palm。 It was moist； throbbing； hot； and
the feel of it on her cheek was strangely thrilling and comforting。
She lay awake then。 The night was dark and still。 Only a low moan
of wind in the pines and the faint tinkle of a sheep bell broke the
serenity。 She felt very small and lonely lying there in the deep
forest； and； try how she would； it was impossible to think the same
then as she did in the clear light of day。 Resentment； pride； anger
these seemed abated now。 If the events of the day had not changed
her； they had at least brought up softer and kinder memories and
e