d that's very unusual. I'm always so strong."

Roger nodded. "It was a bad knock, to leave you senseless for half an
hour. I suspect you ought to take pretty good care of yourself for
several days. I've been talking with Elsa and she thinks you ought to
stay here for a few days. And I do too. Don't worry about Dick. I saw
him this morning and he'll be himself by sundown. And I've promised
Elsa I won't see him again until after she does."

Charley eyed Roger's long brown face as if taking in the full
significance of all he had said. Then she gave a little sigh of relief.

"If I could rest here in this peaceful tent, just for a day or two."

"The tent's all right at night, but I've moved Gustav's cot into the
engine house, and I'm going to help you over there. It's ten degrees
cooler than here. Elsa and Felicia are established there and I won't
disturb you for I'm drawing, which act is noiseless."

In a dim corner of the adobe engine house in Gustav's cot Charley spent
the day. Elsa, when she was not playing housekeeper sat beside her with
her sewing and Felicia visited between the cot and Roger's drawing
board.

Once when Charley seemed to be in an uneasy sleep, Felicia asked Roger,
"Is Charley very sick?"

"Not really sick at all, chicken. She's just tired. She's worked too
hard for you and Dick."

Felicia stared at him with her innocent, speculative gaze so like
Charley's, yet so unlike.

"Can't we live here with you, instead of up at the ranch, Roger? I know
Charley would like it better."

"You can stay and make us a visit, anyhow. Then we'll see."

At sunset, after the dishes were finished and Charley had moved back to
the living tent for the night, Elsa went up to the ranch house. She was
gone a long time. Charley was dozing and Felicia asleep. Roger prowled
up and down the camp closely followed by Peter until he could bear the
suspense no longer. A sudden fear that Dick might have discovered more
liquor somewhere started him along the ranch trail. He met Elsa just as
the afterglow disappeared and the parching night came down like a star
dotted curtain. She came trudging through the sand as if she were tired.

"It does seem as if I'd wilt with the heat," she exclaimed. "You
needn't have worried about me, Roger. Dick came back with me till we saw
you."

"He did, huh! Then he's neither drunk nor dead?"

"Rog! Don't say such awful things about the poor fellow."

"Poor fellow! You didn't see Charley ly