d yells. Slim smiled as he heard the coming.

Show Low made a running jump, throwing his arms about the Sheriff's
neck. Parenthesis and Sage-brush each grabbed a hand, pumping up and
down emphatically. The others slapped him on the back. All talked at
once, asking him the news, and whether Jack had returned.

"Did you nip it up with the 'Paches," asked Parenthesis.

"Talk, durn ye, talk!" shouted Show Low, "or we'll hang out your hide."

Slim shook the hands of his comrades, in turn, affectionately.

For each he had his own, particular form of greeting. "No, boys," he
said, when the group became more orderly, "I ain't a-goin' to say a
word 'till I see Mrs. Payson first."

Polly had ridden at once to the house to tell the joyful news of Slim's
return to Echo, who hurried at once to the boys about the wagon.

Parenthesis spied her riding down the trail. "She's comin' now," he
cried.

"Boys," requested Slim, "would you mind herdin' off yonder a bit?"

The cow-punchers strolled over to the cottonwood, leaving Echo to meet
Slim alone.

"Where is he?" was Echo's tearful greeting.

"Well, ma'am, there's a man out yonder that's been through fire and
brimstone for you!"

Echo stared over the prairies. Then Jack was still searching for Dick.
Slim had failed to find him. "Out yonder," she moaned, wringing her
hands.

"Wait a minute," says Slim. "He says to me, says he: 'Break it to
her, Slim; tell her gentle--an' if she wants me--call, and I'll come.'
Ma'am, Dick Lane is dead."

Echo shuddered. "Dead," she repeated. "By his--"

"No, no," interrupted Slim; "not that way. Indians. Jack found Dick,
an' the Indians found 'em both. When I come up with the soldiers from
Fort Grant they was havin' the derndest mixup with Indians you ever did
see. Both men were bad hurted, an' Dick--well, ma'am--I leaned over
him jest in time to hear him say: 'Tell her I know she was true--and
not to mind.' Then he gave a little ketch of his breath, and dropped
back into my arms."

Echo sighed. The tragedy of the desert was very real to her. In the
many months that the two men had been away she had lived through it
with them in poignant imagination.

"Great-hearted Dick," she said. "I was not worthy of his love. And
Jack, where is he?"

"Wait a minute--he wants to know if you can forgive him--if you will
take him back."

"Slim!" was the only word Echo uttered, but the volume of love it
contained told him everyth