utstretched arms. Clasping it tightly to her breast she
started quickly down the trail.

Following her for a few steps before taking my way over the ridge, I
observed that her hands were wandering swiftly over the coat, from
pocket to pocket; as if seeking something. Suddenly the expression of
intense anxiety on her face gave way to one of unspeakable relief. She
turned around quickly and caught my hand: "Come on, you poor, abused
girl! Let's run, I am so anxious about Ralph."

"I'm glad you've got some affection left for him!" I retorted
scornfully. "It seemed to me from the way you've gone on, that you
cared less for either of us than for father's old coat."

Jessie gave the hand that lay limply in her's an ecstatic little
squeeze. "Our money, Leslie, is all in a little bag that is pinned in
the lining of this old coat; it's here now, all safe."

I could only gasp, as she had done before me, with a difference of
names, "Oh, Jessie!"

"Yes," Jessie repeated, nodding, "and it's quite safe, I can feel it.
Our cowboy friend did not have time to find it. I only hope that Ralph
has not got into mischief." He had not. I was obliged to leave Jessie
and go over the ridge for the cows, but she told me, when I presently
followed her into the house, that she had found Ralph still
contentedly destroying his picture book.

CHAPTER XVIII

A VITAL POINT

It was the day but one after our exciting trip to the Water Storage
Reservoir when, as we were busy about our usual work, our attention
was attracted by a loud voice at the gate, shouting: "Whoa! Whoa, sir!
Whoa, now, I tell you!" and I was guilty of a disrespectful laugh.

"There comes Mr. Wilson, Jessie. You can always tell when he is
coming, for he begins shouting to his horses to stop as soon as he
sights a point where he wishes them to halt. Evidently he is intending
to call on us."

"Good morning, young folks, good morning!" was the hearty salutation,
a moment after, as our neighbor himself stood on the threshold.

"No, I can't stop," he declared, as usual, when Jessie offered him a
chair. "If I set," he continued, "I shall stay right on, like a big
clam that's got fixed to his liking, prob'ly, and I've got a heap to
do to-day."

Nevertheless, he dropped easily into the seat as he continued:

"Day after to-morrow's the day, I s'pose?"

"Yes," Jessie responded, dejectedly, "it is."

"Hu--m--wal', wal', you don't seem real animated about it, if you'll