in the
surrey where "Red" tried vainly to interest Aunt Lizzie.

Wallie was too angry with Mr. Stott to care for luncheon, so after a
bite he betook himself to the shade of a tree, and sat down to smoke,
with his back against it.

He was thinking of the buckskin and how jaded it had looked that morning
and wondering if its already stiffened shoulders would get over it if he
pulled off its shoes and turned it into a soft pasture. His speculations
were interrupted by Aunt Lizzie, who stood before him twisting her
fingers in embarrassment.

A peerless beauty could not have passed unscathed through such a
morning, but the havoc it had wrought in Aunt Lizzie's looks was nothing
short of startling.

Her lids were inflamed and swollen from the bites of the "no-see-ems,"
her nose was red, and her eyes watered from the gypsum dust which
affected her like hay-fever, her sailor hat had slipped to the back of
her head and her "scolding locks" were hanging like a fringe over a
soiled linen collar. One would have said that Aunt Lizzie could have
traversed the earth unmolested, not excepting the bandits because of
whom she had fled Mexico.

Something of the sort passed through Wallie's mind as he waited the
explanation of her obvious confusion.

"I have something--very awkward--to say to you, Wallie."

The harried expression which was becoming chronic leaped into his eyes
at the introduction, as he asked himself what now might be portending.

"It's rather indelicate to discuss with a gentleman," she continued,
braiding her fingers.

Wallie was alarmed but, anxious to set her at her ease, he said
encouragingly:

"You can talk as freely to me as if I were your--father."

He had not had time to visualize himself as Aunt Lizzie's father when
she went on in a short-breathed fashion:

"I fear that I shall have to leave you, Wallie, as soon as possible."

Wallie's wonder grew, but he said nothing.

"I think--I fear--I believe," she stammered, "that Mr. Hicks is of a
very ardent temperament."

Wallie could not have spoken now had he wanted to.

"Since yesterday I have found him looking at me frequently in a peculiar
manner. Last night he stared at me with his burning eyes until I could
feel his hypnotic influence. I hope--I trust you will believe I have not
given him any encouragement?"

Wallie's jaw, which had fallen, prevented him from reassuring her that
he believed her blameless.

"So far, the tongue of scandal ha