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illimitable velvet night； countless unwinking stars lighting the blue…black
dream in which she floated。 The enchantment of the night's loveliness
swept through her sensitive pulses and thrilled her with the mystery of the
great life of which she was an atom。 Awe held her a willing captive。
She thought of many things； of her past life and its incongruity with
the present； of the man who lay wounded at the Lazy D； of this other
wide…shouldered vagabond who was just now in the shadows beyond the
firelight； pacing up and down with long； light even strides as he looked to
his horse and fed the fire。 She watched him make an end of the things he
found to do and then take his place opposite her。 Who and what was he；
this fascinating scamp who one moment flooded the moonlit desert with
inspired snatches from the opera sung in the voice of an angel； and the
next lashed at his horse like a devil incarnate？ How reconcile the
outstanding inconsistencies in him？ For his every inflection； every motion；
proclaimed the strain of good blood gone wrong and trampled under foot
of set； sardonic purpose； indicated him a man of culture in a hell of his
own choosing。 Lounging on his elbow in the flickering shadows； so
carelessly insouciant in every picturesque inch of him； he seemed to
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radiate the melodrama of the untamed frontier； just as her guest of
tarnished reputation now at the ranch seemed to breathe forth its romance。
〃Sleep well； little partner。 Don't be afraid； nothing can harm you；〃 this
man had told her。
Promptly she had answered； 〃I'm not afraid； thank you； in the least〃；
and after a mornent had added； not to seem hostile； 〃Good night； big
partner。〃
But despite her calm assurance she knew she did not feel so entirely
safe as if it had been one of her own ranch boys on the other side of the
fire； or even that other vagabond who had made so direct an appeal to her
heart。 If she were not afraid； at least she knew some vague hint of anxiety。
She was still thinking of him when she fell asleep； and when she
awakened the first sound that fell on her ears was his tuneful whistle。
Indeed she had an indistinct memory of him in the night； wrapping the
blankets closer about her when the chill air had half stirred her from her
slumber。 The day was still very young； but the abundant desert light
dismissed sleep summarily。 She shook and brushed the wrinkles out of her
clothes and went down to the creek to wash her face with the inadequate
facilities at hand。 After redressing her hair she returned to the fire； upon
which a coffee pot was already simmering。
She came up noiselessly behind him； but his trained senses were
apprised of her approach。
〃Good mo'ning！ How did y'u find your bedroom？〃 he asked； without
turning from the bacon he was broiling on the end of a stick。
〃Quite up to the specifications。 With all Wyoming for a floor and the
sky for a ceiling； I never had a room I liked better。 But have you eyes in
the back of your head？〃
He laughed grimly。 〃I have to be all eyes and ears in my business。〃
〃Is your business of a nature so sensitive？〃
〃As much so as stocks on Wall Street。 And we haven't any ticker to
warn us to get under cover。 Do you take cream in your coffee； Miss
Messiter？〃
She looked round in surprise。 〃Cream？〃
〃We're in tin…can land； you know； and live on air…tights。 I milk my cow
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with a can…opener。 Let me recommend this quail on toast。〃 He handed her
a battered tin plate； and prepared to help her from the frying…pan。
〃I suppose that is another name for pork？〃
〃No； really。 I happened to bag a couple of hooters before you
wakened。〃
〃You're a missionary of the good…foods movement。 I shall name your
mission St。 Sherry's…in…the…Wilderness。〃
〃Ah； Sherry's！ That's since my time。 I don't suppose I should know my
way about in little old New York now。〃
She found him eager to pick up again the broken strands that had
connected him with the big world from which he had once come。 It had
been long since she had enjoyed a talk more； for he expressed himself with
wit and dexterity。 But through her enjoyment ran a note of apprehension。
He was for the moment a resurrected gentleman。 But what would he be
next？ She had an insistent memory of a heavenly flood of music broken by
a horrible discord of raucous oaths。
It was he that lingered over their breakfast； loath to make the first
move to bring him back into realities； and it was she that had to suggest
the need of setting out。 But once on his feet； he saddled and packed swiftly；
with a deftness born of experience。
〃We'll have to ask Two…step to carry double to…day；〃 he said； as he
helped her to a place behind him。
Two…step had evidently made an end of the bronco spree upon which
he had been the evening before； for he submitted sedately to his unusual
burden。 The first hilltop they reached had its surprise to offer the girl。 In a
little valley below them； scarce a mile away； nestled a ranch with its
corrals and buildings。
〃Look！〃 she exclaimed； and then swiftly； 〃Didn't you know it was
there？〃
〃Yes； that's the Hilke place；〃 he answered with composure。 〃It hasn't
been occupied for years。〃
〃Isn't that some one crossing to the corral now？〃
〃No。 A stray cow； I reckon。〃
They dropped into a hollow between the hills and left the ranch on
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their left。 She was not satisfied； and yet she had not grounds enough upon
which to base a suspicion。 For surely the figure she had seen had been that
of a man。
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CHAPTER 12。 MISTRESS AND
MAID
Now that it was safely concluded； Helen thought the adventure almost
worthwhile for the spontaneous expressions of good will it had drawn
for