a dark mahogany from
embarrassment. He had intended to use only copy-book language in his
conversation with the new governess.

Ruth was surprised. Jim was a puzzle to her, but there was no doubt that
he was very kind and very good-looking.

"I shall be horribly stupid and nervous, Mr. Colter," Ruth protested,
"but if you are sure you won't mind the trouble?"

Jim did not leave the ranch house until ten o'clock that evening. He
managed to have five minutes alone with Ruth, after the girls said
good-night.

"Miss Drew," he whispered, "will you be good enough not to let Olive go
away from the ranch alone? I came up to the Lodge to-night not knowing
whether or not I should tell the girls, but I have received threatening
notices from the Indians lately. They say they are going to have the
girl back with them at any cost. I don't believe they have any right to
her. She is old enough to be a free agent, but the Indians are a queer,
revengeful lot. They can bide their time and strike when you least
expect it."

CHAPTER XVII.

THE ROUND-UP.

JUST after dawn, Olive stole softly into Jack's and Jean's bedrooms.
Jean was asleep. But Jack's place was empty. On her pillow was a sheet
of paper addressed to "Miss Ruth Drew."

Olive alone of the group before the living-room fire in the evening just
past, had realized that Jack had no idea of giving up her intention.

Olive slipped quickly into her clothes, determined to follow her friend.
She was unusually timid, but she knew that Jack must not go alone among
the wild cattle and the strange men who gathered at the autumn round-up.
The girl had little knowledge of what a round-up was like but knew that
the Indians often went to it and camped about on the outskirts of the
plains to enjoy the racing and sports that usually closed the day's
work.

Jack must have had about a half hour's start of Olive. She rode as fast
as she could tear for the first few miles of the way, knowing that Jim
had started several hours before. Their cowboys had been off over the
plains for two days searching for their stray cattle and herding them
into the great open field selected for the round-up. There was no one to
follow her and Jack slowed down. Then her heart began to fail her the
least little bit, for she supposed everybody at the ranch would be
furious with her for her disobedience.

Jack heard another horse coming along the trail behind her. Her
repentance vanished, for she presu