ell--Dick's back safe and sound," he said, slowly. "That's the main
thing. I wish you could have seen his eyes when he held you in his
arms out there.... Of course, Dick's coming knocks out your trip East
and changes plans generally. We haven't had the happiest time lately.
But now it 'll be different. Dick's as true as a Yaqui. He'll chase
that Chase fellow, don't mistake me.... Then mother will be home soon.
She'll straighten out this--this mystery. And Nell--however it turns
out--I know Dick Gale will feel just the same as I feel. Brace up now,
girl."

Belding left the patio and traced thoughtful steps back toward the
corrals. He realized the need of his wife. If she had been at home he
would not have come so close to killing two men. Nell would never have
fallen so low in spirit. Whatever the real truth of the tragedy of his
wife's life, it would not make the slightest difference to him. What
hurt him was the pain mother and daughter had suffered, were suffering
still. Somehow he must put an end to that pain.

He found the Yaqui curled up in a corner of the barn in as deep a sleep
as that of the rangers. Looking down at him, Belding felt again the
rush of curious thrilling eagerness to learn all that had happened
since the dark night when Yaqui had led the white horses away into the
desert. Belding curbed his impatience and set to work upon tasks he
had long neglected. Presently he was interrupted by Mr. Gale, who came
out, beside himself with happiness and excitement. He flung a hundred
questions at Belding and never gave him time to answer one, even if
that had been possible. Finally, when Mr. Gale lost his breath,
Belding got a word in. "See here, Mr. Gale, you know as much as I
know. Dick's back. They're all back--a hard lot, starved, burned, torn
to pieces, worked out to the limit I never saw in desert travelers, but
they're alive--alive and well, man! Just wait. Just gamble I won't
sleep or eat till I hear that story. But they've got to sleep and eat."

Belding gathered with growing amusement that besides the joy,
excitement, anxiety, impatience expressed by Mr. Gale there was
something else which Belding took for pride. It pleased him. Looking
back, he remembered some of the things Dick had confessed his father
thought of him. Belding's sympathy had always been with the boy. But
he had learned to like the old man, to find him kind and wise, and to
think that perhaps college and busi