t to
her. "If my head wasn't just splitting, I'd like to laugh. You are
the funniest man alive! I couldn't speak, but I heard you call to me
and tell me you didn't mean it! Then you say you are mighty glad I'm
alive. Doesn't that sound funny enough to bring a person to life
again?"

"No, it's not funny. It was a close call."

She glanced at his grave, white face. "Guess you were scared, John. I
didn't know you could be scared at anything. Jack Corliss as white as
a sheet and trembling like a--a girl!"

"On account of a girl," said Corliss, smiling a little.

"Now, _that_ sounds better. What were you doing up on the mesa this
afternoon?"

"I took some lump-sugar up for my old pony, Apache. He likes it."

"Well, I'll never forget it!" she exclaimed. "How the boys would laugh
if they heard _you'd_ been feeding sugar to an old broken-down
cow-pony! You! Why, I feel better already."

"I'm right glad you do, Nell. But you needn't say anything about the
sugar. I kind of like the old hoss. Will you promise?"

"I don't know. Oh, my head!" She went white and leaned against him.
He put his arm around her, and her head lay back against his shoulder.
"I'll be all right--in a minute," she murmured.

He bent above her, his eyes burning. Slowly he drew her close and
kissed her lips. Her eyelids quivered and lifted. "Nell!" he
whispered.

"Did you mean it?" she murmured, smiling wanly.

He drew his head back and gazed at her up-turned face. "I'm all
right," she said, and drew herself up beside him. "Serves me right for
putting Challenge down the trail so fast."

As they rode homeward Corliss told her of the advent of Sundown and
what the latter had said about the wreck and the final disappearance of
his "pal," Will Corliss.

The girl heard him silently and had nothing to say until they parted at
the ford. Then she turned to him. "I don't believe Will was killed.
I can't say why, but if he had been killed I think I should have known
it. Don't ask me to explain, John. I have always expected that he
would come back. I have been thinking about him lately."

"I can't understand it," said Corliss. "Will always had what he
wanted. He owns a half-interest in the Concho. I can't do as I want
to, sometimes. My hands are tied, for if I made a bad move and lost
out, I'd be sinking Will's money with mine."

"I wouldn't make any bad moves if I were you," said the girl, glancing
at the rancher's gra