whispers, but
in shouts, mingled with roars of laughter--those who had been instructed
beforehand pressed round old Frosty and the Signorina in a dense mass.

Threats, complaints, demands, all sorts of outcries filled the air.

"You old fakir!"

"What do you mean by it, Frosty?"

"Do you think you're a-goin' to run a blazer like this on us, and we'll
swaller hit like hit was catnip tea?"

"What fer did ye want to fool us thataway?"

"We ain't a-goin' to stand it--we'll----"

"Gentlemen, jest be quiet. Let me out--let me git across the street to
the Wagon-Tire--where my daughter is--and I can explain things."

"Explain nothin'!" was the cry; "you'll explain right here! Do you think
Blowout is a-goin' to stand this kind o' thing?"

"Who put you up to run this blazer on us? Them fellers at Plain View? Er
them scrubs at Cinche? This town ain't a-goin' to stand it!"

"Gentlemen," came Frosty's pipe again, "gentlemen, let me out--jest let
me git to my daughter--let me git out o' here before it's too late! This
is some o' that scoundrel Kid Barringer's doin's. Let me out,
gentlemen!"

But the old man had gone the wrong way about it. Kid was one of them, a
good fellow, and much liked. Even those who knew nothing now scented a
romance. The big crowd hemmed old Frosty in and held him there with
pretended wrath and resentment.

* * * * *

At the back door of the Wagon-Tire House, just before the wooden
Columbia appeared to the eyes of Blowout, a meeting had taken place.
From that door Aunt Huldah had stepped with Minnie clinging to her arm.
In the dense shadow Kid Barringer was waiting with two of the best
ponies in Wild Horse County. He came eagerly forward.

"Kid," said Aunt Huldah's heartsome voice, "here's Minnie--I've brung
her to you. I b'lieve we're doin' right. You're a good boy, Kid. An' I
know you love her an' will take keer o' her. Ef you wasn't to, you'd
shore have me to fight!" and she chuckled genially.

"Good-by, honey. Ye needn't to look skeered. We-all have got ye now, an'
we'll take keer of ye--the hull kit an' bilin' o' us. Good-by, bless
your sweet little heart!"

With the word Minnie was in her saddle, swung there by her lover's
strong arms, and away across the levels beside him.

And while, back in Blowout, the Signorina fairly clawed, cat-like, to
get through that wall of cowboys and across the street to where
(believing Kid Barringer to be as far away as