st going to jump on my horse and leave you here to think
of your sins. I am sure you will be here when I come back."

"Oh please, miss, don't go for the police," he begged, tears welling
into his deep blue eyes. "I have never done anything wrong before--and
I can see, now, how silly I was."

"I am not going after the officers," said Dorothy, "but you must know
that you have done very wrong--you might have hurt me seriously."

"Oh, please let me go!" he pleaded. "I will promise you anything, and
I never want to play Wild West again!"

"It was too real for play," retorted Dorothy. "But you need not be too
alarmed. My cousins are good boys."

"Your cousins?"

"Yes, the White boys. Do you know them?"

"Ned and Nat? Of course I do! Oh, don't tell on me! Really I shall be
disgraced forever."

He was crying. Dorothy felt herself weakening.

"I'll tell you where everything is, and I'll promise you anything in
the world if you will only not--give me up. I can't bear to think
of--poor mother. I could stand it--but she----"

"Is she ill?" and Dorothy quickly counted what a disgrace it would be
to a good mother to find her son in such a plight.

"Yes, she is away from me all the time--with the nurses, and I haven't
seen her in a week. It would kill her to know what I've been doing."

"Who takes care of you?" asked Dorothy. "Whom do you play with?"

"Oh, father is away, and I have plenty of money to buy guns and
things. Then I go to plays a lot."

This was the sequel to the story, Dorothy thought. Would it possibly
be safe for her to take the boy's word, and let him go? As he said he
would be disgraced, and perhaps her kindness to him might be his
clearest lesson.

How good-looking he really was! Even standing there, tied, his clear
face, and light hair, could not be undervalued, from the point of fine
looks.

Somehow he was just a bit like Roger--that same round baby face, and
that one unmanageable curl that would hang down on his forehead in
spite of years, and in spite of barbers.

"I'll tell you where I put all the things," he fairly sobbed, "and
I'll give them all back, if you will only give me one more chance. I
remember the Bible always gave folks a second chance."

Dorothy could not repress a smile. Yes, that was true--the Bible
taught forgiveness.

"Quick! They're coming!" he pleaded. "Untie me, and I--I'll run."

Dorothy heard the voices. Quickly she untied the slip knot and almost
as speedily as