The Cattle-Baron's Daughter

e late in arriving and found a company of neighbours already assembled in the big general room. It was panelled with cedar from the Pacific slope

of taste were balanced by those of neglect, while here and there a roughly patched piece of furniture conveyed a plainer hint that dollars were scanty with Allonby. He was from the Sout

Hetty Torrance with Allonby's nephew and daughter. Miss Allonby was pale and slight and silent; but her cousin united the vivacity of the Northerner with the distinction that is still common in the South, and-for he was very young-Hetty found a mischievous p

ng here in a h

oofs grew louder; the women looked anxious and the men glanced at one another. Tidings brought

ve been driving off a steer again," he said

spirit; but still, though none of the guests now showed it openly, the anxious suspense

now the rest. That man is riding hard, and

somewhat meaningless talk which followed and the strained look in one or two of the women's faces had its meaning. Every eye wa

ge him here until they can send for the Sheriff's posse, and of course I could only agree. Though the State seems bent on treating us somewhat meanly,

a little curiously?" s

ly isn't nice to have one of our few pleas

uncle, but there's something that amuses me in the i

eal of human nature in most of us, and it's a

said Miss Allonby; "then com

of his elders who were talking

h Larry came over to us, and I fancy it was Clavering fixed the thing up with him. The

e could understand it, Chris," said Miss A

but it makes the thing kind of impressive, and the rustler fancied our boy was square when he got them. He was to ride over alone and meet somebody from one of the other executives at night in a bluff. H

s Allonby; and Flora Schuyler noticed

be here with him by and by, and I'm gla

ou can't be proud of them

at stake; though it might have sounded nicer if they had managed it di

appeal to me. Even the men we don't like would despise it. They rode into the town without a cartri

day you can find a man like him. It 'most made me

nd of his?" aske

k on his own folks there's only one way of treating him, and it's not going to be nice for Larry if

flush in her cheek. The music, laughter, and gay talk began again, and if anyone remembered that while they c

e visibly less marked. One by one the voices also seemed to sink, and it was evidently a relief to the listeners when a girl rose and closed the piano. Somebody made an effort to secure attention to a witty story, and there was

his nephew. "Slip quietly behind the c

e group of mounted men close beneath. Two of them dismounted, and appeared to be speaking to some one at the door, but the rest sat with their rifles across their saddles and a prisoner in front of them. His hat was crushed a

f one man, and they have

ompanion's voice, and Allonby m

m to take any chances of losing him," he said. "I wish t

en one of the horsemen seized the captive's bridle, and the man made a slight indign

go down and talk quite s

it plunged. He turned his head as he did so, and the moonlight shone into his face. It was very white, and there w

arry!"

he said. "Of course, one feels sorry; but he brought i

ht Hetty slipped back from behind the curtain, and, s

. If one could only m

chuyler, sharply. "Sit quite still here and talk t

shook out her dress and laughed,

iminal in an emergency. Of course, being a responsible man he stands in with us, and in times like these the ar

simple. Still, wouldn't it make the thing more squa

me. The difference is t

course, must

elp me-I'm going to do something for him. Try to be nice

r companion. "You tried to make me

sking questions? Larry was very good to me for years, and-I'm sorry for him. Any way, it's so eas

o well with him that when the guests had departed and the girls came out into the corral where he was pacing up and down, he flung his ci

so much wood in the stove," said Hetty.

ut here, and I guess Miss Schuyler ought

great wooden stable together. "If you look at it in one

'bout enough of him, and they're resting, while ours are out on the range. I'm he

you just let us talk to him? The boys have cut his forehead, and Hetty

er glanced at him appealingly-and she kn

o come with us and would have asked so many questions, while we knew you would tell nobody anything

ler is goin

ed at her companion. "Still, you needn't be jealous, Chr

er capacities; but the laughing answer served to banish the lad's suspicions, and he walked with them towards the door.

still for a minute and s

and felt a light touch on his lips. Then, there was a pluck at his belt, and Hetty was several yards away wh

think anything else, you would make me too angry. We'll bring this thing back to you in five minutes, but you

nd, he fancied, Miss Schuyler even prettier still; but he had a few misgivings,

isively, "I'm sta

of the long building Miss Schuyler touched her companion. "

stall. A man sat there with his hands still bound and a wide red smear upon hi

orry, Larry,"

tty, whose heart beat fast, that it was onl

ed, and it was my fault. Still, I

t it was horribly mean. I couldn't help coming-I

couldn't have fancied tha

fancied I could tie it up for you. You wouldn't mind if I tried,

ck upon himself, and his voice was almost too even as he pointed to the pitcher bes

in the pitcher she laved his forehead, and then would

id, "take m

was a quiver in her voice. "It wouldn't hurt you v

ke mine. If they found a lady's handkerchief round my

d to wonder, Larry, how you were able to think of everything," she said. "Now I have brough

o hide his astonishment, when

hirsty, Hetty," he said

led him and took it away. It was so de

ad. "Just try t

g from me? Still-you-have got to think now. If I let you go, you will pr

h, of course you couldn't. I was sorry the last time I asked you," she said. "Larry, you make me fe

"I don't think I'm going

o. It will be quite easy. Chr

n't it strike you that it w

ce was very low. "If anyone must be hurt

hing him in sidelong fashion, saw the grim restrai

. There is no meanness in his father or him; but that wouldn't stop him thi

r in her voice, "you are right again-I don'

sh the dust off your little shoes; but you don't look at these thin

d wondered whether his resolution would support him much longer, stood very still w

s will go away in an hour or so, and the other man will only watch the door. There are horses

his arm; and heard something drop close beside him with a rattle, could answer, a

fraid you were going to ma

d you wouldn

u have known me quite

as she turned to Miss Schuyler. "Now," she said,

st a steady, scrutinizing glance at her compan

nd I feel so mean that I'm not fit to talk to you or any

d, and a slim, white figure glided towards the window. Flora Schuyler stood beside it in another second or two, and felt that the girl whose arm she touched was trembling.

said somebody. "The best horse Allonb

k on Flora Schuyler's shoulder when she felt the warm girdling of

the corral! Ten times as many of the

ly, "you are shivering all through.

Of course," she said. "You don't know Larry. If they had al