guns. Poor Monty! We were good friends,
Monty an' I. But it wasn't friendship for me that made Monty stand in
there. He would have saved her, anyway. Monty Price was the whitest man
I ever knew. There's Nels an' Nick an' Gene, he's been some friend to
me; but Monty Price was--he was grand. He never knew, any more than you
or Bill, here, or the boys, what Bonita was to me."

Stillwell's kind and heavy hand fell upon the cowboy's shoulder.

"Danny, what's all this queer gab?" he asked. "An' you're takin' some
liberty with Miss Hammond, who never seen you before. Sure I'm makin'
allowance fer amazin' strange talk. I see you're not drinkin'. Mebbe
you're plumb locoed. Come, ease up now an' talk sense."

The cowboy's fine, frank face broke into a smile. He dashed the tears
from his eyes. Then he laughed. His laugh had a pleasant, boyish ring--a
happy ring.

"Bill, old pal, stand bridle down a minute, will you?" Then he bowed to
Madeline. "I beg your pardon, Miss Hammond, for seemin' rudeness. I'm
Danny Mains. An' Bonita is my wife. I'm so crazy glad she's safe an'
unharmed--so grateful to you that--why, sure it's a wonder I didn't kiss
you outright."

"Bonita's your wife!" ejaculated Stillwell.

"Sure. We've been married for months," replied Danny, happily. "Gene
Stewart did it. Good old Gene, he's hell on marryin'. I guess maybe I
haven't come to pay him up for all he's done for me! You see, I've been
in love with Bonita for two years. An' Gene--you know, Bill, what a way
Gene has with girls--he was--well, he was tryin' to get Bonita to have
me."

Madeline's quick, varying emotions were swallowed up in a boundless
gladness. Something dark, deep, heavy, and somber was flooded from her
heart. She had a sudden rich sense of gratitude toward this smiling,
clean-faced cowboy whose blue eyes flashed through tears.

"Danny Mains!" she said, tremulously and smilingly. "If you are as glad
as your news has made me--if you really think I merit such a reward--you
may kiss me outright."

With a bashful wonder, but with right hearty will, Danny Mains availed
himself of this gracious privilege. Stillwell snorted. The signs of his
phenomenal smile were manifest, otherwise Madeline would have thought
that snort an indication of furious disapproval.

"Bill, straddle a chair," said Danny. "You've gone back a heap these
last few months, frettin' over your bad boys, Danny an' Gene. You'll
need support under you while I'm throwin' m