ets and
squatted round the fire to eat jerky, biscuits and gravy, and to drink
cupfuls of hot, black coffee. Before sun rose every man was at his post
far up on the Squaw Creek ridges ready to begin the drive.

Later in the day Helen rode to the parade grounds, toward which a
stream of cattle was pouring down the canyon of the creek. Every gulch
tributary to the creek contributed its quota of wild cows and calves.
These came romping down the canyon mouth, where four picked men, with a
bunch of tame cows in front of them, stopped the rush of flying cattle.
Lunch was omitted, and branding began at once. Every calf belonging to
a Lazy D cow, after being roped and tied, was flanked with the great D
which indicated its ownership by Miss Messiter, and on account of the
recumbent position of which letter the ranch had its name.

It was during the branding that a boyish young fellow rode up and handed
Helen a note. Her heart pumped rapidly with relief, for one glance told
her that it was in the handwriting of the Ned Bannister she loved. She
tore it open and glanced swiftly through it.

DEAR FRIEND: Two hours ago my cousin was killed by one of his own men.
I am sending back to you a boy who had been led astray by him, and it
would be a great service to me if you would give him something to do
till I return. His name is Hugh Rogers. I think if you trust him he will
prove worthy of it.

Jim and I are going to stay here a few days longer to finish the
work that is begun. We hope to meet and talk with as many of the men
implicated in my cousin's lawlessness as is possible. What the result
will be I cannot say. We do not consider ourselves in any danger
whatever, though we are not taking chances. If all goes well we shall be
back within a few days.

I hope you are not missing Jim too much at the roundup. Sincerely,

NED BANNISTER

She liked the letter because there was not a hint of the relationship
between them to be read in it. He had guarded her against the chance of
its falling into the wrong hands and creating talk about them.

She turned to Hughie. "Can you ride?"

"In a way, ma'am. I can't ride like these men." His glance indicated a
cow-puncher pounding past after a wild steer that had broken through the
cordon of riders and was trying to get away.

"Do you want to learn?"

"I'd like to if I had a chance," he answered wistfully.

"All right. You have your chance. I'll see that Mr. Austin finds
something for yo