e ain't changed any."

Nan shook her head.

"Jeff couldn't change. Even marriage couldn't change Jeff. You see,
Jeff's got notions of life which are just part of him. Maybe he'll
soften some in ways and things, but his notions'll remain, and they'll
stand right out in all he does."

But Bud remained without conviction.

"A good woman can set a big man hunting a halo," he said. "An' I allow
he's li'ble to find it, if she don't weaken in her play. But a bad
woman--why, I guess a bad woman can send him down quicker than most
things in life, once she tucks herself into a corner of his life depot."

"But Jeff would never fall in love with a bad woman." Nan protested
swiftly, an odd little pucker of anxiety gathering between her brows.
"I--I'm sure his wife's a good woman."

"An' I ain't any sort o' reason to think diff'rent."

"But you do think--that way."

Nan's understanding of her father was wide. It could scarcely have
been otherwise, since he had been her sole companion for so many years.

But Bud was to be drawn no further.

"Ther' ain't no accounting fer how folks think when they ain't out on a
joy trip," he grumbled, as he moved across to the open window, and
stood gazing out over the trail from the northeast. Then all further
discussion was abandoned in a small wave of excitement. He was
pointing down the trail.

"Say, they're coming right along now. An'----"

But Nan was at his side. Something of the color had faded out of her
cheeks, and she clung to her father's arm as she gazed along the narrow
winding road. Her breath was coming rapidly. For all her courage, now
that the moment of great trial had arrived, she felt very weak, very
helpless.

Bud understood. He released his arm from her nervous clasp, and placed
it gently about her shoulders. "It's Jeff setting the gait," he said.
"I'd say he's crazy to get home." Then he added as though to himself:
"Guess I'd as lief seen her on the lead."

But Nan gave no heed to his words. The soul of the girl was in her
eyes, which were full of a deep terror and yearning. She had schooled
herself for this meeting How she had schooled herself! And now it
seemed beyond her powers to live up to that schooling.

Never for a moment did she withdraw her gaze. It was held fascinated,
perhaps against her will. They came on, riding at an almost racing
gallop, and finally drew up with their horses fighting against the
restraining bits.

Bud and