've
seen Mary!"

"Have you? How did you manage?"

"I trailed her. Went to all the churches in town. She sings in a little
stone church over here."

"I know. I've been up here to see her once or twice myself."

Harold seized him by the arm. "See here, Jack--I must talk with her. How
can I manage it without doing her harm?"

"That's the question. If these people should connect you with 'Black
Mose' they'd form a procession behind you. Harry, you don't know, you
can't imagine the stories they've got up about you. They've made you
into a regular Oklahoma Billy the Kid and train robber. The first great
spread was that fight you had at Running Bear, that got into the Omaha
papers in three solid columns about six months after it happened. Of
course I knew all about it from your letters--no one had laid it to you
then, but now everybody knows you are 'Black Mose,' and if you should be
recognized you couldn't see Mary without doing her an awful lot of harm.
You must be careful."

"I know all that," replied Harold gloomily. "But you must arrange for me
to see her right away, this afternoon or to-night."

"I'll manage it. They know me here and I can call on her and take a
friend, an old classmate, you see, without attracting much
attention--but it isn't safe for you to stay here long, somebody is
dead-sure to identify you. They've had two or three pictures of you
going around that really looked like you, and then your father coming up
may let the secret out. We must be careful. I'll call on Mary
immediately after dinner and tell her you are here."

"Is she married? Some way she seemed like a married woman."

"No, she's not married, but the young preacher you heard this morning
is after her, they say, and he's a mighty nice chap."

There was no more laughter on the gentle, red-bearded face of young
Burns. Had Harold glanced at him sharply at that moment, he would have
seen a tremor in Jack's lips and a singular shadow in his eyes. His
voice indeed did affect Harold, though he took it to be sympathetic
sadness only.

Jack brightened up suddenly. "I can't really believe it is you, Harry.
You've grown so big and burly, and you look so old." He smiled. "I wish
I could see some of that shooting they all tell about, but that _would_
let the cat out."

Harold could not be drawn off to discuss such matters.

"Come out to the ranch and I'll show you. But how are we to meet father?
If he is seen talking with me it may start