, left her alone with Stanislaus Joe. Miss Alice was not in
good temper, but she felt it necessary to say something.

"I hope the hotel offers better quarters for travellers than this in
summer," she began.

"It does."

"Then this does not belong to it?"

"No, ma'am."

"Who lives here, then?"

"I do."

"I beg your pardon," stammered Miss Alice, "I thought you lived where we
hired--where we met you--in--in--You must excuse me."

"I'm not a regular guide; but as times were hard, and I was out of grub,
I took the job."

"Out of grub!" "job!" And SHE was the "job." What would Henry Marvin
say? It would nearly kill him. She began herself to feel a little
frightened, and walked towards the door.

"One moment, miss!"

The young girl hesitated. The man's tone was surly, and yet indicated a
certain kind of half-pathetic grievance. HER curiosity got the better of
her prudence, and she turned back.

"This morning," he began hastily, "when we were coming down the valley,
you picked me up twice."

"I picked YOU up?" repeated the astonished Alice.

"Yes, CONTRADICTED me: that's what I mean,--once when you said those
rocks were volcanic, once when you said the flower you picked was a
poppy. I didn't let on at the time, for it wasn't my say; but all the
while you were talking I might have laid for you--"

"I don't understand you," said Alice haughtily.

"I might have entrapped you before folks. But I only want you to know
that I'M right, and here are the books to show it."

He drew aside the dingy calico curtain, revealed a small shelf of
bulky books, took down two large volumes,--one of botany, one
of geology,--nervously sought his text, and put them in Alice's
outstretched hands.

"I had no intention--" she began, half-proudly, half-embarrassedly.

"Am I right, miss?" he interrupted.

"I presume you are, if you say so."

"That's all, ma'am. Thank you!"

Before the girl had time to reply, he was gone. When he again returned,
it was with her horse, and Mrs. Rightbody and Ryder were awaiting her.
But Miss Alice noticed that his own horse was missing.

"Are you not going with us?" she asked.

"No, ma'am."

"Oh, indeed!"

Miss Alice felt her speech was a feeble conventionalism; but it was all
she could say. She, however, DID something. Hitherto it had been her
habit to systematically reject his assistance in mounting to her seat.
Now she awaited him. As he approached, she smiled, and put out her
little