he had seen a most adorable hat
there in the milliner's window and had planned since early morning upon
riding over for it. So when Alan brought the other horses he led hers
with them, a beautiful white mare, glossy and well-groomed, trim as a
greyhound and richly accoutred in Mexican saddle and Spanish bit. Mrs.
Murray kept them waiting a moment, hardly more. Then she appeared
dressed in a distracting riding habit. They saw her leave an envelope
with the hotelkeeper; they did not hear her instructions. Then all
mounted, and again Howard had it in his heart to be grateful for
Sanchia. For now he and Helen rode together and far enough in advance
to be in a world by themselves.

Until this moment Mrs. Murray had talked about nothing in the world
that mattered. But now, her eyes watchful, her manner that of one who
has waited long enough and is impatient, she said quickly:

'You are still looking for your gold mine?'

'Yes,' said Longstreet. 'Oh, yes.'

But on the instant in his eye was that look of a man with the ace
buried. Perhaps Mrs. Murray had played poker; clearly she knew
something of poker faces.

'You have found it!' she cried softly. 'Oh, I am so glad!'

He looked at her wonderingly.

'What makes you say that?' he stammered.

'That I am glad? Why shouldn't I be? Why shouldn't every one be glad?
When one's friend--oh, but we are friends, dear Mr. Longstreet! There
is the one glorious thing to be said about this country, about all of
the West back from the railroads, that two persons don't have to know
each other a year to become real, true friends. For your sake and for
the sake of your wonderful daughter, am I not to be genuinely glad?'

He had to wait to the end of the rushing words to correct her:

'I meant, what made you say that I had found it?'

She opened her big eyes at him like a baby.

'But you have, haven't you? You came to find gold; you brought to bear
upon the situation your scientific knowledge instead of a prospector's
poor brain; and you have found gold, I am sure!' She smiled upon him
brightly as she concluded with a semblance of trustfulness and
artlessness: 'Tell me the truth; haven't you found it?'

Suddenly he found himself hard beset. She had gauged him pretty
accurately and therefore had asked him the question pointedly. He must
either say yes or no; true, he might be rude to her and refuse an
answer, but that would be equivalent to an admission. If he sai