le Celeste Seldon, gazing back also,
noted the same fact, and murmured to herself:

"What yet is before me, I wonder?"

CHAPTER XXXI.

DOCTOR DICK TELLS THE NEWS.

When the coach had got well away from the Dead Line, Harding gave a deep
sigh of relief, for the first time feeling that Celeste was safe, and
would not be retaken by the outlaws.

"Well, Doc, she's safe now, and we didn't lose our scalps," he said.

"It is a cause of congratulation all round, Harding."

"Now, Doctor Dick, _you_ have got to tell the young lady about the poor
crazy fellow."

"Did you not tell her?"

"That his wound had crazed him, yes; but that is not the worst of it."

"Ah, yes, you mean that he has been captured?"

"I cannot say that, Doc; but he has mysteriously disappeared."

"Well, you wish me to break the news to her?"

"I do, for I can't tell her what I know will hurt her, and it won't do
for her to hear it from the men when she arrives in Last Chance."

"I guess you are right, pard, so draw up, and I'll take a seat inside
the coach, and tell her the news."

"Be very gentle, Doc, for I have an idea she loves that young man."

"I'll break it to her as gently as I can," was the response, and as
Harding drew rein a moment after, Doctor Dick sprang down from the box,
and said:

"May I ride with you, Miss Seldon?"

"Certainly, sir, if you desire."

"I have something to talk to you about," said Doctor Dick, as he entered
the coach and took the front seat.

"I shall be glad to hear what you have to say, sir, and I desire now to
thank you for your very great kindness toward me, while you risked your
life in coming out here to serve me."

"Do not speak of it, Miss Seldon, for the miners all chipped in and made
up a purse for your ransom, while they are now anxiously awaiting your
coming to give you a right royal welcome, for you will be the first lady
who ever came to our camp."

"Indeed! this will be an honor; but do you mean that there are none of
my sex there?"

"Not one, only rough men, but with noble hearts many of them, so that
you will be made to feel at once at home."

"How odd it will be, yet I have no hesitancy in going there, I assure
you," and Celeste gazed into the face of the man before her with both
interest and admiration.

"He is strangely handsome, a manly fellow, brave, intelligent, yet a
dangerous foe, and I wonder what has brought such a man as he to this
far-away land?" ran her thoug