oving
towards the door. "He's been worried to death about you bein' gone!"

Beth ran at once for the stairs, and later, from the window, saw the
faithful old Billy leading her pony away. She closed her door,
darkened the light, and soon clambered wearily into bed, where she
dropped off to sleep like a child, lost to the world through the dinner
hour and till something like three in the morning. She awaked then for
a moment, long enough to think of Van, then sighed in absolute comfort
and turned to sleep again.

It was nine o'clock in the morning when at last she appeared on the
scene.

"Land snakes!" said Mrs. Dick, who had heard her coming down. "Ain't
you the sleeper! Well, I've kept your breakfast, but I couldn't keep
last night's supper. Your friend, Mr. Bostwick, was here about eight,
but I told him he'd have to wait if it took you a week to come to."

"You didn't tell him I'd been away, I hope," said Beth, suddenly
alarmed at the thought of Searle's presence in the town. "I'd rather
no one knew but you."

"Lord! I wouldn't tell him if a rat was dead in his pocket!" Mrs. Dick
expostulated. "I can't abide the man, and you might as well know it,
even if it does hurt your feelings."

Beth sat down to her breakfast. "You're as good as you can be."

"Well, the breakfast ain't--'taint fresh," said Mrs. Dick. "But I'll
see you git a decent lunch."

She bustled off into the kitchen. Beth had barely finished eating when
Bostwick again appeared.

The man was tanned from his trip in the desert. He seemed alert,
excited, keen over prospects rapidly coming to a head.

"Well, well, Beth," he said as he came inside the dining-room, "I'm
back, you see, but I've certainly had a time of it! The car broke
down, and Glen had left Starlight when at last I arrived, and I hunted
for him all through the mountains and only found him four days ago, and
we've been going ever since. I couldn't write, but I did feel cut up,
I assure you, about leaving you here alone for so long a time."

He advanced as if to kiss her, but Beth avoided his caress. She was
calm and possessed. She meant to ascertain just how far the man was
trying to deceive her.

"Won't you sit down, and tell me all about it," she said. "You saw
Glen four days ago?" She resumed her place in her chair.

"Three or four days ago--I'm mixed in my dates," he said, as he also
took a seat. "He's looking fine, and sent his love, of course."

That th