you--you treated me so?" burst out Nell.

His coolness was exasperating. Instead of the contrition and apology
she had expected, and which was her due, he evidently intended to
tease her, as he had done so often.

The young man dropped a blanket and stared.

"I don't understand," he said, gravely. "I never saw you before."

This was too much for quick-tempered Nell. She had had some vague
idea of forgiving him, after he had sued sufficiently for pardon;
but now, forgetting her good intentions in the belief that he was
making sport of her when he should have pleaded for forgiveness, she
swiftly raised her hand and slapped him smartly.

The red blood flamed to the young man's face; as he staggered
backward with his hand to his cheek, she heard a smothered
exclamation behind her, and then the quick, joyous barking of a dog.

When Nell turned she was amazed to see Joe standing beside the
wagon, while a big white dog was leaping upon him. Suddenly she felt
faint. Bewildered, she looked from Joe to the man she had just
struck; but could not say which was the man who professed to love
her.

"Jim! So you followed me!" cried Joe, starting forward and flinging
his arms around the other.

"Yes, Joe, and right glad I am to find you," answered the young man,
while a peculiar expression of pleasure came over his face.

"It's good to see you again! And here's my old dog Mose! But how on
earth did you know? Where did you strike my trail? What are you
going to do out here on the frontier? Tell me all. What happened
after I left---"

Then Joe saw Nell standing nearby, pale and distressed, and he felt
something was amiss. He glanced quickly from her to his brother; she
seemed to be dazed, and Jim looked grave.

"What the deuce--? Nell, this is my brother Jim, the one I told you
about. Jim, this is my friend, Miss Wells."

"I am happy to meet Miss Wells," said Jim, with a smile, "even
though she did slap my face for nothing."

"Slapped you? What for?" Then the truth dawned on Joe, and he
laughed until the tears came into his eyes. "She took you for me!
Ha, ha, ha! Oh, this is great!"

Nell's face was now rosy red and moisture glistened in her eyes; but
she tried bravely to stand her ground. Humiliation had taken the
place of anger.

"I--I--am sorry, Mr. Downs. I did take you for him. He--he has
insulted me." Then she turned and ran into the cabin.

Chapter II.

Joe and Jim were singularly alike. They were nearly