nk you for reproving Mr. Camp's dreadful
swearing."

"Thank yer, miss," said the sheriff. "We fellers are a little
rough at times, but ---- me if we don't know what's due to a
lady."

"Papa," said Madge, as soon as he was out of hearing, "the
sheriff is the most beautiful swearer I ever heard."

For a while there was silence round the station; I suppose the
party in 218 were comparing notes, while the two cowboys and I
had the best reasons for being quiet. Presently, however, the men
came out of the car and jumped down on the platform. Madge
evidently followed them to the door, for she called, "Please let
me know the moment something happens or you learn anything."

"Better go to bed, Madgy," Albert called. "You'll only worry, and
it's after three."

"I couldn't sleep if I tried," she answered.

Their footsteps died away in a moment, and I heard her close the
door of 218. In a few moments she opened it again, and, stepping
down to the station platform, began to pace up and down it. If I
had only dared, I could have put my finger through the crack of
the planks and touched her foot as she walked over my head, but I
was afraid it might startle her into a shriek, and there was no
explaining to her what it meant without telling the cowboys how
close they were to their quarry.

Madge hadn't walked from one end of the platform to the other
more than three or four times, when I heard some one coming. She
evidently heard it also, for she said,--

"I began to be afraid you hadn't understood me."

"I thought you told me to see first if I were needed," responded
a voice that even the distance and the planks did not prevent me
from recognizing as that of Lord Ralles.

"Yes," said she. "You are sure you can be spared?"

"I couldn't be of the slightest use," asserted Ralles, getting on
to the platform and joining Madge. "It's as black as ink
everywhere, and I don't think there's anything to be done till
daylight."

"Then I'm glad you came back, for I really want to say
something,--to ask the greatest favor of you."

"You only have to tell me what it is," said his lordship.

"Even that is very hard," murmured Madge. "If--if--Oh! I'm afraid
I haven't the courage, after all."

"I'll be glad to do anything I can."

"It's--well--Oh, dear, I can't. Let's walk a little, while I
think how to put it."

They began to walk, which took a weight off my mind, as I had
been forced to hear every word thus far spoken, and was