e snow.

"Hetty!" he said, a swift flush of pleasure sweeping his face, and Miss
Schuyler set her lips as she noticed that he did not even see her.

Hetty gathered up her bridle, and wheeled her horse. "Ride into the
bluff--quick," she said. "Somebody might see us in the trail."

Larry did as he was bidden, and when the gloom of the trees closed about
them, sprang down and looped his bridle round a branch. Then, he stood by
Hetty's stirrup, and the girl could see his face, white in the faint light
the snow flung up. She turned her own away when she had looked down on
it.

"I have had an anxious day, but this makes up for everything," he said.
"Now--and it is so long since I have seen you--can't we, for just a few
minutes, forget our troubles?"

He held out his hand, as though to lift her down, but the girl turned her
eyes on him and what he saw in them checked him suddenly.

"No," she said, with a tremor in her voice, "we can't get away from them.
You must not ask any question until you have heard everything!"

She spoke with a swift conciseness that omitted no point and made the
story plain, for there was a high spirit in the girl, and a tangible peril
that could be grappled with had a bracing effect on her. Grant's face grew
intent as he listened, and Hetty, looking down, could see the firmer set
of his lips, and the glint in his eyes. The weariness faded out of it, and
once more she recognized the alert, resourceful, and quietly resolute
Larry she had known before the troubles came. He turned swiftly and
clasped her hand.

"I wonder if you know how much you have done for me?"

Hetty smiled and allowed her fingers to remain in his grasp. "Then, you
have heard nothing of this?" she said.

"No," said the man. "But Hetty----"

Again the girl checked him with a gesture. "And I need not ask you whether
you would have had a hand in it?"

Grant laughed a little scornful laugh that was more eloquent than many
protestations. "No," he said, "you needn't. I think you know me better
than that, Hetty?"

"Yes," said the girl softly. "You couldn't have had anything to do with
that kind of meanness. Larry, how was it they did not tell you?"

She felt the grasp of the man's fingers slacken and saw his arm fall to
his side. His face changed suddenly, growing stern and set, until he
turned his head away. When he looked round again the weariness was once
more plain in it, and she almost fancied he had checked a groan.