to them."

"I will show you to a chamber, your valise is already in it," said Miss
Neidic.

Mr. Pond followed her, and the Texan was left alone to his thoughts,
which he carelessly expressed aloud.

"So far all works well," he said. "Mr. Willie Pond is as soft as mush;
but I've read him through and through. He wouldn't go with me if he
didn't think he'd have a chance to serve Wild Bill, for, though he shuns
Bill, he thinks more of Bill than he would have me think, I'll bet Addie
has found that out."

"Found out what?" said the lady herself, who had returned so noiselessly
that Jack had not heard her.

"That Mr. Pond, as he calls himself, is a friend of Wild Bill's."

"All of that, and maybe something more, as you may find out before you
are through your trip."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing but this--keep your eyes open, and study your Mr. Pond
closely."

"There is nothing dangerous about him?"

Miss Neidic laughed heartily.

"Nothing very dangerous to you, at any rate," she said; "but if they all
go in the morning, we must see Persimmon Bill to-night."

"That is so. Shall I bring the horses round?"

"No. We might be overheard. I will go to the stables. Get the horses
ready. I have some things to put up for Bill, and I will come as soon as
I pack them in a pair of saddle-bags."

Jack now left for the stable, and Miss Neidic, with a woman's
forethought, began to gather up many little things which might be useful
to her outlaw lover, who had little chance to procure articles of
comfort, not to speak of luxury, except when on some raid in the
settlements.

In ten minutes she was ready and on her way to the stables.

Jack had her own favorite horse saddled, while for himself he chose the
Black Hawk beauty.

In a few seconds both were mounted, and in the darkness they sped away
over the same route which Jack had taken when he went to visit Persimmon
Bill.

Little was said as they rode on, for the horses were kept at a swift
gallop, and before the hour was up they had approached the ravine as
near as they deemed safe before giving the signal.

Scarcely was it given before it was answered, and a second later
Persimmon Bill himself was by the side of Addie Neidic's horse, and she
was pressed to the outlaw's bosom with a fervor that showed he had a
heart more than half-human left in his breast.

"It's kind of you, Addie, to come out here in the chill of the night to
see a wild cuss like me, outlawed