. I'll tie him, shan't I?"

"He's very tired. I don't think he'll need any tying. He's never
tied at Sobrante."

"Sobrante? Are you from Sobrante? Why, I've heard of that ranch,
myself."

"Have you? That makes it seem as if I knew you."

The stranger smiled and beckoned to the policeman, who proved to be the
brass-buttoned individual that had taken so much apparent interest in
Jessica, but had not spoken to her of his own accord. He came forward
promptly now and the young man related to him what Lady Jess had said.
Then asked:

"What would I better do about it? I thought of taking her to the
restaurant over there and getting her some dinner."

"No. She'd better go to the station-house with me. The matron'll look
after her and I'll have the donkey put in stable. I'll tell the officer
who's coming on this beat now to keep an eye out for a countryman with
a stiff-legged horse; is it, girl?"

"Yes. A bay horse, with a blazed face. The horse's name is Stiffleg
and the master's, Ephraim Marsh."

The officer made the entry in his book, then took hold of Scruff's
bridle and led the way stationward. Jessica looked appealingly into
the young man's face and he smiled, then grasped her hand.

"Don't fear, child, that I'll desert you till I find your old
guardian. There's nothing frightful about a station-house, except to
criminals," he said, kindly.

However, Jessica knew nothing of such institutions and therefore had
no fear of them. With the exception of Antonio's "crossness" she had
met with nothing but love and kindness all her life, and she looked for
nothing else. She was already happy again at finding two persons ready
to talk with her and help her; and her pretty face grew more and more
charming to the artist's view as she skipped along beside him toward
the police headquarters, as this station chanced to be.

"You see, little girl, that when a child is lost in a city the first
thing the friends think of is--the station-house. All stray persons are
taken and messages are sent to it from every part of the town all the
time. That Ephraim will remember that, if he's ever been here before,
and he'll be finding you long before night. Till then you'll be safe
and cared for."

Jessica did feel a moment's hesitation when she had to part with Scruff,
but soon laughed at her own dismay.

"I felt as I must take him inside this building with me, for fear he'd
be lonesome, too. But, of course, I know better. Why, what a