nd that was
an event Helen prayed for, yet feared as she had never feared anything.

The noonday dinner-bell startled Helen from a reverie that was a
pleasant aftermath of her unrestraint. How the hours had flown! This
morning at least must be credited to indolence.

Bo was not in the dining-room, nor in her own room, nor was she in
sight from window or door. This absence had occurred before, but not
particularly to disturb Helen. In this instance, however, she grew
worried. Her nerves presaged strain. There was an overcharge of
sensibility in her feelings or a strange pressure in the very
atmosphere. She ate dinner alone, looking her apprehension, which was
not mitigated by the expressive fears of old Maria, the Mexican woman
who served her.

After dinner she sent word to Roy and Carmichael that they had better
ride out to look for Bo. Then Helen applied herself resolutely to her
books until a rapid clatter of hoofs out in the court caused her to jump
up and hurry to the porch. Roy was riding in.

"Did you find her?" queried Helen, hurriedly.

"Wasn't no track or sign of her up the north range," replied Roy, as he
dismounted and threw his bridle. "An' I was ridin' back to take up her
tracks from the corral an' trail her. But I seen Las Vegas comin' an' he
waved his sombrero. He was comin' up from the south. There he is now."

Carmichael appeared swinging into the lane. He was mounted on Helen's
big black Ranger, and he made the dust fly.

"Wal, he's seen her, thet's shore," vouchsafed Roy, with relief, as
Carmichael rode up.

"Miss Nell, she's comin'," said the cowboy, as he reined in and
slid down with his graceful single motion. Then in a violent action,
characteristic of him, he slammed his sombrero down on the porch and
threw up both arms. "I've a hunch it's come off!"

"Oh, what?" exclaimed Helen.

"Now, Las Vegas, talk sense," expostulated Roy. "Miss Helen is shore
nervous to-day. Has anythin' happened?"

"I reckon, but I don't know what," replied Carmichael, drawing a long
breath. "Folks, I must be gettin' old. For I shore felt orful queer till
I seen Bo. She was ridin' down the ridge across the valley. Ridin' some
fast, too, an' she'll be here right off, if she doesn't stop in the
village."

"Wal, I hear her comin' now," said Roy. "An'--if you asked me I'd say
she WAS ridin' some fast."

Helen heard the light, swift, rhythmic beat of hoofs, and then out on
the curve of the road that led down