nger and alarm.

"Let me go, damn you!" he shouted, shrilly.

Bryant waved a hand towards the engineers' shack and thither Charlie
was propelled, cursing and struggling, in Morgan's firm grasp.
Entering his office, Lee closed the door, walked to the stove, and
standing there produced the letter. It was the first and only missive
he had ever received from Ruth. He gazed at the envelope and the
scrawled writing on it with an impression of strangeness, but this
gave way to a curiosity as to the contents. He had a strong suspicion
of the letter's purport. Ruth would have reviewed her conduct that
night at Sarita Creek, and, with her instinctive cunning, perceived it
would alienate Lee. The message doubtless carried an adroit
explanation and excuse, ending up with numerous declarations of her
affection and hypocritical assertions of her anxiety on his account.
Disgust overwhelmed him. He was minded to cast the thing into the
stove unread. At last, however, muttering to himself, he thrust a
forefinger under the flap and ripped the envelope open. A newspaper
clipping that had been enclosed in the letter dropped to the floor. He
read:

DEAR LEE:

After thinking the matter over very carefully, I've decided to
release you from our engagement. If this pains you, as I fear
it will, I'm extremely sorry, but I've discovered that we're
not temperamentally suited to each other. You've failed,
besides, so I understand, which further convinces me of that.
And in addition, I've learned of late that I love another, who
loves me. Therefore it's much better that I take this step,
much better and much wiser--don't you think so? However, Lee,
I shall always be your friend.

It may interest you to know that this evening Mr. Gretzinger
and I are to be married. Privately, with only a few close
friends. We depart immediately after the ceremony for New
York. Mr. Menocal is to pack my things at Sarita Creek, so you
need not bother about them. I understand Imogene is visiting
at the Graham ranch; I'm dropping her a note there telling her
the news.

With best wishes,
RUTH.

Bryant lifted from the floor and read the clipping. It was a short
announcement, evidently from a Kennard paper, of the prospective
wedding that night of Miss Ruth Gardner, of Sarita Creek, and Mr. J.
Senton Gretzinger, of New York.

When he had read this, Lee gently tilted and sh