't you understand a girl's heart any better than that, Buck? She
never casts a man off for such things, if she truly loves him--though,
perhaps, she ought to! Love isn't a thing of the head, but of the heart.
I love you, Buck, and I am very sorry!"

He held her as if he meant never to let her go, and she submitted to his
crushing caress.

"You are true--true--true as steel!" he exultantly cried.

"Be careful, or you will be heard, dear! We are right by the house,
remember."

"Is your father in?"

"No, but he may return at any time. It would be terrible if he should
discover us here."

"What are we to do?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know. I haven't had time to think. What you have confessed
has so upset me that I seem to know nothing else. I can't think of
anything else. You see, Buck, I can't tell father any more that you were
not--drunk that night!"

The hated word seemed to choke her.

"No!"

"And what shall I say to him?"

"I reckon that is entirely too much for me."

"But I will stand up for you all I can!"

"I allow that you are an angel!" he enthusiastically declared.

"You have a low conception of angels. I can't imagine one meeting a man
in this surreptitious fashion. Really, Buck, when you come to think of
it, it is almost as bad as--as--what you did at Connelly's, you know!"

"Not on your life, it isn't! It's the thing I knew you would do--and
there isn't any truer or better girl whatever on this earth!"

"I am glad you think so, Buck."

The Westerner was trembling as much now with delight and pleasure as he
had before been trembling with apprehension. The fear that Winnie would
cast him off when she knew the truth about the _Crested Foam_ affair,
that had so distressed him, had given place to a deep satisfaction.

"It would be dreadful if father should discover us here. I am really
getting scared!" she continued.

"I reckon that there isn't any other place whatever where we can go?" he
anxiously asked.

"No. But we can stand and talk here a little while. Then I shall have to
hurry back into the house before my absence is noticed. One of the
servants I can trust to help me, but, I am afraid, not the others."

"And Elsie and Inza?"

"Yes, of course, all they can. They have just heard about the trouble I
have been having. They thought I was sick. I don't know what they can
do."

"Carry notes," Badger suggested.

"Yes. Oh, they will do what they can! They sent me a key that fits the