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"But I was suspicious of you all the time."

"So you had a right to be. That ain't the point, which is that a

girl did all that for a man she thought might be an enemy and a

low-down spy. Men are expected to take chances like I did, but

girls ain't. You took 'em. If I lived a thousand years, I

couldn't tell you all the thanks I feel."

"Ah! It makes it worse that you're that kind of a man. But I'm

going to show you whether I trust you." Her eyes were filled with

the glad light of her resolve. She spoke with a sort of proud

humility. "Do you know, there was a time when I thought you might

have--I didn't really believe it, but I thought it just

possible--that you might have come here to get evidence against

the Squaw Creek raiders? You'll despise me, but it's the truth."

His face lost color. "And now?" he asked quietly.

"Now? I would as soon suspect my father--or myself! I'll show you

what I think. The men in it were Jed Briscoe and Yorky and Dick

France."

"Stop," he cried hoarsely.