his
assumption of a footing that had not existed an hour ago. Picturesque
and unconventional conduct excuses itself when it is garbed in
picturesque and engaging manners. She had, besides, other reasons for
wanting to meet him, and they had to do with a sudden suspicion that
flamed like tow in her brain. She had something for which to thank
him--much more than he would be likely to guess, she thought--and she
was wondering, with a surge of triumph, whether the irony of fate had
not made his pretended consideration for her the means of his undoing.

"I am sorry you lost so much, Miss Wainwright," he told her.

"But, after all, I did not lose so much as you. Her dark, deep-pupiled
eyes, long-lashed as Diana's, swept round to meet his coolly.

"That's a true word. My reputation has gone glimmering for fair, I
guess." He laughed ruefully. "I shouldn't wonder, ma'am, when election
time comes round, if the boys ain't likely to elect to private life the
sheriff that lay down before a bunch of miscreants."

"Why did you do it?"

His humorous glance roamed round the car. "Now, I couldn't think it
proper for me to shoot up this sumptuous palace on wheels. And wouldn't
some casual passenger be likely to get his lights put out when the band
began to play? Would you want that Boston church to be shy a preacher,
ma'am?"

Her lips parted slightly in a curve of scorn. "I suppose you had your
reasons for not interfering."

"Surely, ma'am. I hated to have them make a sieve of me."

"Were you afraid?"

"Most men are when Wolf Leroy's gang is on the war path."

"Wolf Leroy?"

"That was Wolf who came in to see they were doing the job right. He's
the worst desperado on the border--a sure enough bad proposition, I
reckon. They say he's part Spanish and part Indian, but all pisen.
Others say he's a college man of good family. I don't know about that,
for nobody knows who he really is. But the name is a byword in the
country. People lower their voices when they speak of him and his
night-riders."

"I see. And you were afraid of him?"

"Very much."

Her narrowed eyes looked over the strong lines of his lean face and
were unconvinced. "I expect you found a better reason than that for not
opposing them."

He turned to her with frank curiosity. "I'd like real well to have you
put a name to it."

But he was instantly aware that her interest had been side tracked.
Major Mackenzie had entered the car and was coming down the aisl