ed it across to the far side of the valley. Then she
drew a sharp breath, and her eyes widened.

The telltale smoke rose from the heart of a woodland bluff, and near by
a large herd of cattle was grazing, watched over by three mounted men
whose horses were moving slowly over the bright green carpet of grass.

She lay quite still, regardless of all but those moving figures, and
the dark green bluff. She was watching and waiting for she knew not
what. Her heart was thumping in her bosom, and her breath came
rapidly. There was no question in her mind. In a moment her whole
life seemed to have changed. The day had dawned to a contemplation of
the monotonous round of drudging routine, only to close with a thrill
such as she had never dreamed could be hers.

The moments passed; rapid, poignant moments. The sun dipped lower
toward the alabaster crests of distant mountain peaks. The peace of
the scene suggested nothing of the turbulent thought a-riot behind her
wide, dark eyes. What must be done? What could she do--a woman? She
felt helpless--so helpless. And yet----

She raised herself upon her elbow and propped her soft cheek upon the
palm of her hand. She must think--think. The chance of it all. It
was so strange. There lay the secret revealed--the secret which every
rancher in the district for years had sought to discover. There was
the camp of the Lightfoot gang. She had discovered it, had discovered
its approach. Everything--she, a woman.

What could she do with the secret? How could she---- She thought of
her husband. But somehow her enthusiasm lessened with the thought.
But she needed him. Yes. There was no room for any doubt on that
score. He must be roused, and convinced. He most be made to see the
importance and significance of her discovery, and they must turn it
to----

The crack of a rifle startled her. Almost on the instant the
whistling, tearing of a bullet sounded in the bush to the left of her.
Her glance was terrified as it turned in the direction. Then, in a
moment, she was crouching lower as she searched the valley away over by
the bluff.

In an instant her nerves strung tight. A group of men were standing
just within its shadow, and the three horsemen, who had been riding
round the cattle, were racing directly toward the foot of the pathway
leading out of the valley. She must have been seen when she had stood
at the opening. And now----

But there was not a second t