think. He only knew that he was going home to Charley.

They reached the mesa that evening, at sundown. With all the desire in
the world, Roger could not go on. So he made camp in a little draw and
lay down to sleep. He did not waken until morning.

It was well toward supper time when Roger reached the ranch. There was
no one to be seen. Roger turned Peter into the corral and fed him, then
went into the living tent, shaved and changed his clothing. Charley,
Elsa and Dick were at supper when Roger entered and with a quick sense
of remorse he saw that each face turned toward him wore a look of
startled anxiety. He paused in the doorway, the lamp glow disclosing the
lines of exhaustion around his mouth.

"Hello," he said, huskily, "I've come back to you people, if you'll have
me!"

Elsa was the first to rush to him. "Oh, Roger, did you really want to
come back?" she cried.

Roger stooped and kissed her cheek. "Want to come back? Why, I've almost
died of impatience getting back."

Dick shoved Elsa gently aside. "I'm sure things can be fixed up, Roger,"
he said. "Ernest isn't--"

Roger interrupted by placing both hands on Dick's shoulders. "Old man,"
he said. "The important thing to me now is for you to understand how I
feel about you, how I understand what you've been through and how I
need your help, just because of what you've been through."

There was a sudden silence. Charley, her great eyes on Roger's face, did
not move. Dick cleared his throat.

"Why--why--Roger!--My God--do you mean it? That you don't hate me any
more? Don't bluff me, Roger! I've been in too lonely a hell. What's
happened to you, Rog?"

"I've come to," replied Roger, dropping his hands from Dick's shoulders
and crossing the room to stand before Charley.

She had risen and was standing quietly behind her chair. Roger, with his
eyes on hers, lifted both her hands against his breast.

"Charley!" he said, huskily, "Oh, Charley! Charley!" and then, his voice
and his will failed him and he bowed his head on her shoulder.

Charley freed one hand and laid it on his head. "Poor child!" she
murmured. "Poor old Roger!"

Elsa sniffed in a manner peculiarly like a sob, and Roger raised his
head with a sheepish laugh.

"I guess I'm about all in," he said.

"You're hungry and tired out," exclaimed Charley. "Sit down, Roger and
have some supper."

There was a little flurry of bringing fresh plates and an extra chair
and the interrupted meal wa