can save others. And then there
are the school-children, with lonely hours that can be lightened, and
with work to be found for them in the big world after they have learned
the white man's tasks. But there are going to be heartaches and
disillusionments for a woman. A man can grit his teeth and smash through
some way, unless he sinks back into absolute indifference as a good many
Indian agents do. But a woman--well, dear, I dread to think of your
embarking on a task which is at once so alluring and so endless and
thankless."

Helen put her hand on his lips.

"With you helping me, no task can seem thankless."

"Well, then, this is our kingdom of work," said Lowell, with a sweep of
his sombrero which included the vast reservation which smiled so
inscrutably at them. "There's every human need to be met out there in
all that bigness. We'll face it together--and we'll win!"

They rode back leisurely along the ridge and took the trail that led to
the ranch. The house was closed, as Wong was at the agency, ready to
leave for the Sargents' place in California. The old white horse, which
Helen rode, tried to turn in at the ranch gate.

"The poor old fellow doesn't understand that his new home is at the
agency," said Helen. "He is the only one that wants to return to this
place of horrors."

"The leasers will be here soon," replied Lowell. "They are going to put
up buildings and make a new place all told. The Greek letter on the door
will be gone, but, no matter what changes are made, I have no doubt that
people will continue to know it as Mystery Ranch."

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mystery Ranch, by Arthur Chapman

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