The Man of the Forest

their luggage. Helen bade Bo take her share; thus burdened,

seized Helen's heavy bag, with which she

sure out in the wil

y kind. In the excitement of arriving Helen had forgotten him. The manner of sudden reminder-the insincerity of it-made her temper flash. She almost fell,

'll carry my

help Bo with hers,"

ith sharp determination. No little force

er with that joke, are you?" he queried, de

ied Helen. "I told you I d

ome town. An' I ain't goin' to let a quarrel keep me fr

d just helped Bo off the car. Then Helen looked up

len Rayner?

es

le. I've come

you?" added Helen

sent me," began the

who, grasping Helen by the

end you to meet my young friend

Riggs. She could not read this qu

n my own hook

then-they're in my c

en's, and if there was not a smile in them o

aid you didn't want th

her arm a little squeeze. Probably Bo's thought was like hers-here was a real Western man. T

gered clos

kin, I hail

e. His tone seemed friendly. "An' if you ever lived long in Texas

y. He dropped his right han

gun. It might go

probably just what Dale evidently had read it-h

. But she heard the thud as it struck. The gun went flying t

ourself some d

xcitement or emotion or hurry, it yet seemed full and significant of t

ssion was surprise. As the shuffling crowd began to snicker and whisper, Riggs gave Dale a

en's baggage, he said, "Come on," and shouldered a lane thro

you?" whispered Bo. "O

ld gray stage-coach and four lean horses. A grizzled, sunburned man sat on the driver's seat, whip and reins in hand. Beside him was a younger man with rifle across

sn't you

p the girls. Wanted to throw his gun on me. I was sur

ht. The young man at the coach door took a second look at h

stage, and then, placing the lighter luggage,

imb up,"

led the driver, "

door. He glanced at the crowd, now

you," he said, and indecis

exclaime

n' takes time. An' w

rry?" queried Helen

rec

he stage t

nin'. We rustled this old t

But I-I don't understand

ou to ride on the mornin

laimed Helen. Apprehensively she

n' facts may change your mind

Helen, blankly. "You mea

oundabout an' not hit Snow

-to my uncle-

goin' to

re now to be dependent upon her judgments. It was a hard moment and, though she shivered inwardly, she welcomed the initial and inevitable step. This man Dale, by his dress of buckskin, must be either scout or hunter. His size, his action, the tone of

said. "Get in, and let us h

l. Send 'em alo

the stage lurched and began to roll; the motley crowd was left behind. Helen awakened to the reality, as she saw Bo staring with bi

at first glance appeared darkly bronzed and hard, and then became clear, cold, aloof, still, intense. She wished she might see a smile upon it. And now that the die was cast she could not tell why

ot your sister," h

u know she'

she looks

ought so," replied H

ling, as she said, "Wish I

our name Helen

-some few ca

elen. An' what's yours?" w

it silly? But I wasn't asked whe

r heard it before. But I haven

cried Bo. "Look, Nell! How

y miles of that before we

and on to a bright, dark horizon-line, where the sun was setting rayless i

ite anythin' about a man n

e is familiar to us-and detestable. My uncle complained of this man for year

take the West as it is. There's good an' bad, maybe more bad. That's because the country's young.... So to come right out wit

e?" ejaculated H

worse than killing you!" declared Dale, gri

utterly

out. "Make off with me!...

o a fierce lit

ut of the way. He named the day you were to reach Magdalena. With Al dead an' you not there, Beasley could get the property. An' then he wouldn't care if you did come to claim it. It 'd be too late.... Well, they rode away that night. An' next day I rustled down to Pine. They're all my friends at Pine, except old Al. But they think I'm queer. I didn't want to confide in many people. Beasley is strong in Pine, an' for that matter I suspect Snake Anson has other friends there besides Beasley. So I went to see your uncle. He never had any use for me because he thought I was lazy like an Indian. Old Al hates lazy men. Then we fell out-or he fell out-because he believed a tame lion of mine had killed some of his sheep. An' now I reckon that Tom might have done it. I t

o, ringingly. She was white; her fin

oy's. Helen felt her body all rigid, yet slightly trembling. Her hands were cold. The horror of this r

efore we can turn off. To-day sometime the rest of the boys-Roy, John, an' Hal-were to leave Show Down, which's a town farther on from Snowdrop. They have my horses an' pac

her hands

o courage?" s

ou are," said Bo, consoli

both brace up. It's a bad job. But I've done my best. An' you'll be safer with me an

a coward-or-or ungrateful. I'm neither. It's only I'm so-so shocked. A

ar. Let's take what

ith the worst. Maybe we'll get through easy. When we meet the

and I ride fairly well," responded Helen.

ridin' before I get you up

of the stage Helen heard a rapid beat of

out. The stage rolled to a halt.

was that?"

Joe. "I seen him 'way back. He was ridin' some. An'

as if he did not lik

get by Roy on thi

y before Roy strik

n't li

. Dale, you think he was a messenger-go

," replied D

above and called: "Miss Helen, don't you worry. Thet

, and she had never let the fact remain before her consciousness. This cheerful young man spoke calmly of spilling blood in her behalf. The thought it roused was tragic-for bloodshed was insupportable

said Dale, reaching out a long arm. Presently he placed a cloth-cov

t half full yet,

up on top with the boys an' eat my supper. It'll be dark, pre

oor, clambered up to the driver's seat. Then t

ntful evening was the way Bo reached for the

N'T EAT!" s

to have some pretty severe trials.... Gee! it's all great-just like a story! The unexpected-why, he looks like a prince turned hunter!-long, dark, stage journey-held up-fight-escape-wild ride on hor

o, tell me, are

tern girls stand such things, we can.

she had given herself in dreams, and she was at once as

with me!" exclaimed Helen, ferve

air blow in. The sun had long since sunk. Out to the west, where a bold, black horizon-line swept away endlessly, the sky was clear gold, shading to yellow and blue above. Stars were out, pale

said Bo, suddenly, and she

fs, the clink of chains, the creak and rattle of the old

pulled the cloaks up over them, and close together leaned back in a corner of the

erval. "Where are we, Nell? Those men up the

't a Mormon,"

o you

the way he spok

such a wonderful looking fellow? What'd they call him? Milt-Milt Dale. He said he lived in t

hispered, startlingly, "Wonder if

s," replied Hel

-what did Uncle Al used to call it?-sav-savvied-that's

What do yo

al danger. But I felt it. Something went light i

t Uncle Al's, sure as

ver bother your head again about him. I'll bet they're all men

d back to the loved ones at home, now seemingly at the other side of the world, a

have fallen asleep i

she had chosen to dream of gipsies. And now it struck her grimly that, if these first few hours of her a

t. She looked out, expecting to find it pitch-dark. It was black, yet a transparent blackness. To her surprise she could see a long way. A shooting-star electrified her. Th

a few moments, and once more in motion it began a laborsome climb. Helen imagined miles had been covered. The desert appeared to heave into billows, growing rougher, and dark, round

I?" asked

s desire, but I can't tell you

ct was now no wonder, considerin

, Nell!... Is

like this, I think," replied Helen.

out of t

But it'd be nice if it was

loved cold air,

in to talk like you

at once, but they succeeded, except in the roughest places, when from ti

ner, I'll never forgive you for

handsome Las Vegas c

he suggestion sufficed to reconcil

he driver of the stage kept at his task after the manner of Western me

standstill for so long, with the men whispering on

histle came from t

aid Joe Beeman,

so quick looks bad," repli

if we hain't come thirty mile, an' if thet ridge thar h

d Bo sat clasping each other tight, wondering with b

l. Helen heard the thud of boots striki

e, to the side of the road... and here comes a man..

lently, and beyond it a vague outline of horses, and

and met the stra

girl sure, or you wouldn't

wo girls-sisters

ath. Then another lean, rangy form strode

bout Anson's gan

relin'. Reckon they'll leave th

have you b

couple

orse g

N

re dark. He was hittin' the road. An

y. "Let's rustle. With girls on hossback you'

foller hoss tracks,"

s. "Daylight not far away. Here's the forks of the road, an' y

the panting little breaths of her sister. They both peered out, ha

se Anson won't make anythin' of our wheel tracks or horse tracks. He'll go right on to me

n' take it easy at

oe an' Hal ride back to meet the regular stage. An' when

greeable to me,

on it, too," s

ill, hand down the bags. An' you, Roy, help me p

't powerful particular you can feed

riding to the stage,

not asleep? C

ped dow

s vehicle fell off the road

He took off his sombrero and stood silen

Joe, did you hear thet? All the

keen eyes upon her face. He seemed both gentle and respectful, and she felt

hauled out baskets and bags. T

g with you. John an' Hal will f

hamed of my country-offerin' two sich purty gurls insults an' low-down tricks. But shore you'll go thro

grizzly!" broke

n' good luck!" ended Bill, a

but Helen could only murmur hers

the stage careened and creaked, prese

looking down upon Helen. She felt his b

d Helen. "I guess we'

're freezing," declared Bo. "I didn't

an' a coat?" asked Roy, anxiously.

ots-all fine and new-in this black bag," said

ot of good they'll do us,

aid Roy, earnestly. "It'll save time in the l

was advised to change her traveling-dress for a riding-suit-out somewhere

e were his sister. And when she indicated t

hanically at their heels. Dale led them a fe

. "We'll make a pack of your out

ay and in a few st

face and big, gleaming eyes by the light of the stars. It struck her then tha

" said Bo, reflectively. "Aren't

, but after she had gotten launched on the task she found that it required more fortitude than courage

was so c-c-cold in all my life. Nell Ray

ands, yet this, the hardest physical ordeal she had ever experienced, almost overcame her. Bo outdistanced her by moments, help

s!" exclaimed Helen. "Oh, Bo,

morrow-on a l-log," rep

note, did not carry her share of the bur

de a group of horses, one

relieving Helen of the grip. "Roy, pu

t two of t

ating Bo. "The stirrups

uch awkward and slow work of it in this ins

n them. Guess they're about right.... Caref

the reputation with whic

t she found herself astride a black, spirited horse. Numb with co

e stirrups wi

your foot.... Shore now, I'm glad you have them thick, s

hear that?"

er unnaturally in her saddle. Helen became

nched u

ady," re

ide shoulders seemed on a level with the pommel of h

e's the fastest an' fine

is-along with my ba

our pet," said Dale. "We can start n

len's saddle and then move

right?" he as

ed in h

voice. Her face shone white in the starlight

he called,

n't you w

ry you," su

this horse or d-die,"

other. Then Roy walked away toward the dark bunch of hors

se to me,

and Helen brou

start and see the pale walls of her little room at home, and hear the cherry branc