the stage? You stay here for a day or so and watch that
child; we'd like it mighty well if you would."

It was a flag of truce from Heart's Desire. Nevertheless, Constance
seemed to hesitate. Ah! wily Constance. A great many things might
happen which had not yet happened, but which ought to happen. And in all
that group Dan Anderson was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps after a time he
might come!

Constance hesitated just long enough. The dignity of Bill Godfrey had to
be sustained. His stagecoach had not started on the appointed and
stipulated time any day these many months; yet for that stage, ready
equipped for its journey, to stand waiting idly upon the convenience of
any mortal after the "mails" had been brought out from the post-office
and placed safely in the boot, was mortal affront to any stage-driver's
reputation. Bill Godfrey again looked solemnly at his watch and gathered
up the reins. "All aboard!" he cried. "Git up!" and so swung a wide
circle and headed down the street to the hotel. Presently he departed.
He carried a solitary passenger. Constance and her father were still
prisoners, or guests, in Heart's Desire for an indefinite time! And in
an indefinite time many things may occur.

In his house across the _arroyo_ Dan Anderson endured the silence and
loneliness as long as he could, turning over and over again in his mind
the old questions to which he had found no answer. Most of all, one
question was insistent. Had he been just to her, to Constance, in
allowing himself to accept her alleged conduct as a motive for his own
actual conduct? He had taken for granted much--all--and upon what manner
of testimony? The babblings of a half-witted herder! He had asked the
men of Heart's Desire to hear both sides of his own case. The men of
Heart's Desire had heard both sides of the railroad's case. But he had
condemned without trial the woman whom he loved--her--Constance! It was
impossible, unbelievable of any man.

When the horror of this thought broke upon him fully, Dan Anderson sprang
up, caught his hat, and started fast as he might for the hotel. He
crossed the _arroyo_ below the post-office, and so did not know, at the
time, of the peril and rescue of Arabella. Nor did he know that all of
Heart's Desire was penitent regarding her and her father; nor that both
were to remain for yet a little time.

Dan Anderson approached the stone hotel in time to watch the stage
depart, himself u