te made no attempt to answer the question she had asked.

"Now, here's this wire Rossman sent me. You don't want to get the
wrong idea, Jean, and feel too bad about this. You don't want to think
you had anything to do with it. Carl was gradually building up to
something of this kind,--has been for a long time. His coming over to
the ranch nights, looking for that letter that he had hunted all over
for at first, shows he wasn't right in his mind on the subject. But--"

"Well, heavens and earth, Lite!" Jean's tone was exasperated more than
it was worried. "Why don't you say what you want to say? What's it
all about? Let me read that telegram and be done with it. I--I should
think you'd know I can stand things, by this time. I haven't shown any
weak knees, have I?"

"Well, I hate to pile on any more," Lite muttered defensively. "But
you've got to know this. I wish you didn't, but--"

Jean did not say any more. She reached over and with her free hand
took the telegram from him. She did not pull away the hand Lite was
holding, however, and the heart of him gave an exultant bound because
she let it lie there quiet under his own. She pinched her brows
together over the message, and let it drop into her lap. Her head went
back against the towel covered head-rest, and for a minute her eyes
closed as if she could not look any longer upon trouble.

Lite waited a second, pulled her head over against his shoulder, and
picked up the telegram and read it through slowly, though he could have
repeated it word for word with his eyes shut.

L Avery,

En Route Train 23, S. L. & D. R. R.

Carl Douglas suicided yesterday, leaving letter confessing murder of
Croft. Had just completed transfer of land and cattle to your name.
Am taking steps placing matter before governor immediately expect him
to act at once upon pardon. Bring your man my office at once
deposition may be required.

J. W. ROSSMAN.

"Now, I told you not to worry about this," Lite reminded the girl
firmly. "Looks to me like it takes a load off our hands,--Carl's doing
what he done. Saves us dragging it all through court again; and, Jean,
it'll let your dad out a whole lot quicker. Sounds kinda cold-blooded,
maybe, but if you could look at it as good news,--that's the way it
strikes me."

Jean did not say a word, just then. She did what you might not expect
Jean to do, after all her strong-mindednes