st setting their feet in the wrong direction. Surely
it was kismet.

Ned Bannister untied the handkerchief from his neck and laid it across
the face of his kinsman. A moment longer he looked down, then passed
his hands across his eyes and seemed to brush away the memories that
thronged him. He stepped forward to the fire and warmed his hands.

"We'll go on, Mac, to the rendezvous he had appointed with his outfit.
We ought to reach there by noon, and the boys can send a wagon back to
get the bodies."

CHAPTER 23. JOURNEYS END IN LOVERS' MEETING

It had been six days since the two Ned Bannisters had ridden away
together into the mountains, and every waking hour since that time had
been for Helen one of harassing anxiety. No word had yet reached her of
the issue of that dubious undertaking, and she both longed and dreaded
to hear. He had promised to send a messenger as soon as he had anything
definite to tell, but she knew it would be like his cousin, too, to
send her some triumphant word should he prove the victor in the struggle
between them. So that every stranger she glimpsed brought to her a
sudden beating of the heart.

But it was not the nature of Helen Messiter to sit down and give herself
up a prey to foreboding. Her active nature cried out for work to occupy
her and distract her attention. Fortunately this was to be had in
abundance just now. For the autumn round-up was on, and since her
foreman was away the mistress of the Lazy D found plenty of work ready
to her hand.

The meeting place for the round-up riders was at Boom Creek, five miles
from the ranch, and Helen rode out there to take charge of her own
interests in person. With her were six riders, and for the use of each
of them in addition to his present mount three extra ponies were brought
in the remuda. For the riding is so hard during the round-up that a
horse can stand only one day in four of it. At the appointed rendezvous
a score of other cowboys and owners met them. Without any delay they
proceeded to business. Mr. Bob Austin, better known as "Texas," was
elected boss of the round-up, and he immediately assigned the men to
their places and announced that they would work Squaw Creek. They moved
camp at once, Helen returning to the ranch.

It was three o'clock in the morning when the men were roused by the
cook's triangle calling them to the "chuck wagon" for breakfast. It was
still cold and dark as the boys crawled from under their blank