ed you. Then he took your rifle, and the only pony left,
and rode off."

"And left you?"

"Yes--he--he never thought of me; only--only how he should escape with
the money. I never moved, never opened my eyes; perhaps he believed me
dead also, and--and I prayed he would. I would rather have died than
have him touch me again. And--and I thought you were dead too. O God!
It was so horrible!"

The man's voice was soft and low, thrilling with the love that refused
control.

"I know, dear; I know it all, now," he said tenderly, clasping her
hands. "But that is all over and gone." He put up one hand to his
wound. "Heavens, how my head aches! But that pain won't last long. I
am a bit groggy yet, but will be on my feet pretty soon. You are a
brave little girl. Tell me how you got free?"

She went over the short story slowly, not lifting her eyes to his, and
he listened in silence, moving his limbs about, confident of the
gradual return of strength.

"But how did it happen?" he asked. "Your capture? Your father's
death? It is all a mystery to me after I left you on the hotel
balcony."

The tears stood in her eyes suddenly uplifted to his, and impulsively
the man encircled her with his arm.

"You know I care, dear," he exclaimed recklessly. "You are not afraid
to tell me."

"No, no; you have been so kind, so true. I can tell you
everything--only it is so hard to confess the truth about my father."

"You suspect he was implicated?" he asked in astonishment, "that he
actually had a part in the plot?"

She looked at him gravely, down into his very soul.

"Yes, and--and that hurts more than all the rest."

CHAPTER XXXII

WORDS OF LOVE

Hamlin was silent for a moment, not knowing what to say that would
comfort or help. He had never suspected this, and yet he could not
refrain altogether from experiencing a feeling of relief. Deeply as he
sympathized with her in this trouble, still the man could not but be
conscious of those barriers formerly existing between them which this
discovery had instantly swept away. Now they could meet upon a level,
as man and woman. No longer could rank intervene; not even the stain
of his own court-martial. Possibly she dreamed of what was passing in
his mind, for she suddenly lifted her eyes to his.

"Shall I tell you?"

"No; not now; both your explanation and mine can wait," he replied
quickly. "I can stand alone now--see," and he regained his feet,
sw