his was the last straw. Seth snorted like a baited animal, whirled
around, bolted from the house, and ran blindly to the barn.

"Saddle Nigger!" he yelled to Williams, who obeyed with stumbling
alacrity, while Huntington strode up and down before the door.

From the window of the ranch house Claire and Hillyer, silent, watched
him until he had flung himself into the saddle, dug the spurs into the
flanks of his favorite and now astonished black horse, and disappeared
up the hill.

"Where's he going?" asked Hillyer, suspicious that Huntington meant
mischief.

Claire drew back from the window with a sigh of relief.

"He's going to--" She laughed softly, but with just a little tremor in
her voice--"He's going to--look after the cattle."

Hillyer saw that her blue eyes were moist.

"He's the best man in the world, and--I love him," she said, looking
at Hillyer with a soft appeal. "You believe that, don't you?"

"Indeed I do, Mrs. Huntington," Hillyer answered heartily.

"Then you must forgive him; he has such a temper!"

"I'm sorry we had any misunderstanding," Hillyer was able to say
sincerely. "I'll talk it over with him--later."

"Please!" urged Claire.

"But I must go now. Those things for Marion, please."

"I'll have them ready in a minute. And I've only to slip on another
dress, and--"

"But you don't mean--You're not going?"

"Of course I am!" she answered, with a look of surprise.

"I think you'd better not," he said quietly.

"But why?"

"Now think a minute, Mrs. Huntington. Your husband objects to your
going. It will not only anger him more, but it will hurt him. Isn't
that so?"

"Yes," she admitted reluctantly.

Her coals of fire had kindled her imagination. Such a romantic idea!
There would be such talk, such a sensation!

"It would be another matter if there were anything you could do,"
Hillyer went on. "But there isn't. And I know very well that Marion
would send you back if you did go."

That was true enough, on reflection; but it was a disappointment!

"But Marion! There alone!" she said, making her last stand.

"I shall be there," replied Hillyer. "The Chinaman's going to fix a
bed for me. I'll look after Marion."

So she yielded, and was glad of it when she had time to think it over.
She gave Hillyer the bundle for Marion, and watched him go, waving a
good-by from the veranda. Then she hastened to the kitchen to make
apple dumplings for supper. If there was one thing that cou