jest
the same!"

Helen only half divined his meaning, but that was enough for a future
reflection. The West was beautiful, but hard. In the faces of these
friends she began to see the meaning of the keen, sloping lines, and
shadows of pain, of a lean, naked truth, cut as from marble.

"For the land's sakes, tell us all about it," importuned Mrs. Cass.

Whereupon Helen shut her eyes and told the brief narrative of her
expulsion from her home.

"Shore we-all expected thet," said Roy. "An' it's jest as well you're
here with a whole skin. Beasley's in possession now an' I reckon we'd
all sooner hev you away from thet ranch."

"But, Roy, I won't let Beasley stay there," cried Helen.

"Miss Nell, shore by the time this here Pine has growed big enough fer
law you'll hev gray in thet pretty hair. You can't put Beasley off with
your honest an' rightful claim. Al Auchincloss was a hard driver. He
made enemies an' he made some he didn't kill. The evil men do lives
after them. An' you've got to suffer fer Al's sins, though Al was as
good as any man who ever prospered in these parts."

"Oh, what can I do? I won't give up. I've been robbed. Can't the people
help me? Must I meekly sit with my hands crossed while that half-breed
thief--Oh, it's unbelievable!"

"I reckon you'll jest hev to be patient fer a few days," said Roy,
calmly. "It'll all come right in the end."

"Roy! You've had this deal, as you call it, all worked out in mind for a
long time!" exclaimed Helen.

"Shore, an' I 'ain't missed a reckonin' yet."

"Then what will happen--in a few days?"

"Nell Rayner, are you goin' to hev some spunk an' not lose your nerve
again or go wild out of your head?"

"I'll try to be brave, but--but I must be prepared," she replied,
tremulously.

"Wal, there's Dale an' Las Vegas an' me fer Beasley to reckon with.
An', Miss Nell, his chances fer long life are as pore as his chances fer
heaven!"

"But, Roy, I don't believe in deliberate taking of life," replied
Helen, shuddering. "That's against my religion. I won't allow it....
And--then--think, Dale, all of you--in danger!"

"Girl, how 're you ever goin' to help yourself? Shore you might hold
Dale back, if you love him, an' swear you won't give yourself to him....
An' I reckon I'd respect your religion, if you was goin' to suffer
through me.... But not Dale nor you--nor Bo--nor love or heaven or hell
can ever stop thet cowboy Las Vegas!"

"Oh, if Dale brings Bo back to