a young fellow!... Bess,
this is a friend of mine. He saved my life once."

The embarrassment of the moment did not extend to Lassiter. Almost at
once his manner, as he shook hands with Bess, relieved Venters and put
the girl at ease. After Venters's words and one quick look at Lassiter,
her agitation stilled, and, though she was shy, if she were conscious
of anything out of the ordinary in the situation, certainly she did not
show it.

"I reckon I'll only stay a little while," Lassiter was saying. "An' if
you don't mind troublin', I'm hungry. I fetched some biscuits along, but
they're gone. Venters, this place is sure the wonderfullest ever seen.
Them cut steps on the slope! That outlet into the gorge! An' it's like
climbin' up through hell into heaven to climb through that gorge into
this valley! There's a queer-lookin' rock at the top of the passage. I
didn't have time to stop. I'm wonderin' how you ever found this place.
It's sure interestin'."

During the preparation and eating of dinner Lassiter listened mostly,
as was his wont, and occasionally he spoke in his quaint and dry way.
Venters noted, however, that the rider showed an increasing interest in
Bess. He asked her no questions, and only directed his attention to her
while she was occupied and had no opportunity to observe his scrutiny.
It seemed to Venters that Lassiter grew more and more absorbed in his
study of Bess, and that he lost his coolness in some strange, softening
sympathy. Then, quite abruptly, he arose and announced the necessity
for his early departure. He said good-by to Bess in a voice gentle and
somewhat broken, and turned hurriedly away. Venters accompanied him, and
they had traversed the terrace, climbed the weathered slope, and passed
under the stone bridge before either spoke again.

Then Lassiter put a great hand on Venters's shoulder and wheeled him to
meet a smoldering fire of gray eyes.

"Lassiter, I couldn't tell Jane! I couldn't," burst out Venters, reading
his friend's mind. "I tried. But I couldn't. She wouldn't understand,
and she has troubles enough. And I love the girl!"

"Venters, I reckon this beats me. I've seen some queer things in my
time, too. This girl--who is she?"

"I don't know."

"Don't know! What is she, then?"

"I don't know that, either. Oh, it's the strangest story you ever heard.
I must tell you. But you'll never believe."

"Venters, women were always puzzles to me. But for all that, if this
girl a