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capable to do what he willed； and a villain every inch of him。
Said she； after that first clash of stormy eyes with bold； admiring ones：
〃I am lostfrom the Lazy D ranch。〃
〃Why； no； you're found；〃 he corrected； white teeth flashing in a smile。
〃My motor ran out of gasolene this afternoon。 I've been〃there was a
catch in her voice〃wandering ever since。〃
〃You're played out； of course； and y'u've had no supper；〃 he said； his
quiet close gaze on her。
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〃Yes； I'm played out and my nerve's gone。〃 She laughed a little
hysterically。 〃I expect I'm hungry and thirsty； too； though I hadn't noticed
it before。〃
He whirled to his saddle； and had the canteen thongs unloosed in a
moment。 While she drank he rummaged from his saddle…bags some
sandwiches of jerky and a flask of whiskey。 She ate the sandwiches； he the
while watching her with amused sympathy in his swarthy countenance。
〃You ain't half…bad at the chuck…wagon； Miss Messiter；〃 he told her。
She stopped； the sandwich part way to her mouth。 〃I don't remember
your face。 I've met so many people since I came to the Lazy D。 Still； I
think I should remember you。〃
He immediately relieved of duty her quasi apology。 〃You haven't seen
my face before；〃 he laughed； and； though she puzzled over the double
meaning that seemed to lurk behind his words and amuse him； she could
not find the key to it。
It was too dark to make out his features at all clearly； but she was sure
she had seen him before or somebody that looked very much like him。
〃Life on the range ain't just what y'u can call exciting；〃 he continued；
〃and when a young lady fresh from back East drops among us while
sixguns are popping； breaks up a likely feud and mends right neatly all the
ventilated feudists it's a corollary to her fun that's she is going to become
famous。〃
What he said was true enough。 The unsolicited notoriety her exploit
had brought upon her had been its chief penalty。 Garbled versions of it had
appeared with fake pictures in New York and Chicago Sunday
supplements； and all Cattleland had heard and discussed it。 No matter into
what unfrequented canon she rode； some silent cowpuncher would look at
her as they met with admiring eyes behind which she read a knowledge of
the story。 It was a lonely desolate country； full of the wide deep silences of
utter emptiness； yet there could be no footfall but the whisper of it was
bruited on the wings of the wind。
〃Do you know where the Lazy D ranch is from here？〃 she asked。
He nodded。
〃Can you take me home？〃
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〃I surely can。 But not to…night。 You're more tired than y'u know。 We'll
camp here； and in the mo'ning we'll hit the trail bright and early。〃
This did not suit her at all。 〃Is it far to the Lazy D？〃 she inquired
anxiously。
〃Every inch of forty miles。 There's a creek not more than two hundred
yards from here。 We'll stay there till morning；〃 he made answer in a matter
of course voice； leading the way to the place he had mentioned。
She followed； protesting。 Yet though it was not in accord with her
civilized sense of fitness； she knew that what he proposed was the
common sense solution。 She was tired and worn out； and she could see
that his broncho had traveled far。
Having reached the bank of the creek； he unsaddled； watered his horse
and picketed it； and started a fire。 Uneasily she watched him。
〃I don't like to sleep out。 Isn't there a ranchhouse near？〃
〃Y'u wouldn't call it near by the time we had reached it。 What's to
hinder your sleeping here？ Isn't this room airy enough？ And don't y'u like
the system of lighting？ 'Twas patented I forget how many million years
ago。 Y'u ain't going to play parlor girl now after getting the reputation
y'u've got for gameness； are y'u？〃
But he knew well enough that it was no silly schoolgirl fear she had；
but some deep instinct in her that distrusted him and warned her to beware。
So； lightly he took up the burden of the talk while he gathered cottonwood
branches for the fire。
〃Now if I'd only thought to bring a load of lumber and some
carpentersand a chaperon；〃 he chided himself in burlesque； his bold eyes
closely on the girl's face to gloat on the color that flew to her cheeks at his
suggestion。
She hastened to disclaim lightly the feeling he had unmasked in her。
〃It is a pity； but it can't be helped now。 I suppose I am cross and don't seem
very grateful。 I'm tired out and nervous； but I am sure that I'll enjoy
sleeping out。 If I don't I shall not be so ungenerous as to blame you。〃
He soon had a cup of steaming coffee ready for her； and the heat of it
made a new woman of her。 She sat in the warm fire glow； and began to
feel stealing over her a delightful reaction of languor。 She told herself
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severely it was ridiculous to have been so foolishly prim about the
inevitable。
〃Since you know my name； isn't it fair that I should know yours？〃 she
smilingly asked； more amiably than she had yet spoken to him。
〃Well； since I have found the lamb that was lost； y'u may call me a
shepherd of the desert。〃
〃Then； Mr。 Shepherd； I'm very glad to meet you。 I don't remember
when I ever was more glad to meet a stranger。〃 And she added with a little
laugh： 〃It's a pity I'm too sleepy to do my duty by you in a social way。〃
〃We'll let that wait till to…morrow。 Y'u'll entertain me plenty then。 I'll
make your bunk up right away。〃
She was presently lying with her feet to the fire； snugly rolled in his
saddle blankets。 But though her eyes were heavy； her brain was still too
active to permit her to sleep immediately。 The excitement of her adventure
was too near； the emotions of the day too poignantly vivid； to lose their
hold on her at once。 For the first time in her life she lay lapped in the
illimitable velvet night； countless unwinking stars lighting the blue…black
dream in