already fast asleep and Jessie about starting for the
corral with the milk-pail.

"Haven't you got the milking done yet, Jessie?"

"No; I waited for Ralph to get to sleep and for you to come. Did you
get any money?"

"No."

Jessie sighed. "I don't know, after all, that I much expected that you
would. Well, if you can wait a little for your supper, come out to the
corral and let me tell you what Mr. Wilson has been saying."

"Has he been here again?"

"Yes; he just left a few minutes before you came."

We went on out to the corral where the cows were waiting to be milked,
Guard following after us with as much sedateness and dignity as if he
had never contemplated, much less committed, a foolish act in his
life.

CHAPTER XXI

A FRIEND IN NEED

Jessie seated herself on the milking-stool by old Cleo's side, while I
leaned against the corral bars, watching her.

"You're tired, aren't you, Leslie?" she asked, glancing up at me, as
under her nimble fingers, the streams of milk began to rattle noisily
into the pail.

"Yes; I am, rather. I think I'm some disappointed too, maybe. What did
Mr. Wilson say?"

"He said that my best plan--for it must go in my name, now--is to get
to town to-morrow before Mr. Horton does, explain to the agent about
father's death--he must have heard of it, Mr. Wilson says, but he is
not obliged to take official note of a thing that has not been
reported to him, and that he has only heard of incidentally--and ask
him to make out the deed to me, as the present head of the family. Mr.
Wilson says that I must be there, ready to tell my story, the minute
the office opens. He hopes that, in that way, we may frustrate Mr.
Horton, who is likely, he says, to be one of the very first on hand
to-morrow morning. After I have explained matters to the agent, he
will be forced to wait the arrival of my witnesses, of course, before
he can do anything. But Mr. Wilson thinks that anything that Mr.
Horton may say, after the agent has seen me, and heard my story, will
be likely to work in my favor, it will show so plainly what Mr. Horton
is up to. Mr. Wilson says that I had better take a horse and start for
town to-morrow, just as soon as it is light enough to see."

"Twenty miles!" I said. "How long will it take you to ride it?" I knew
how long it would take me, on Frank's back, but Jessie is less wonted
to the saddle than I.

"It will take me nearly four hours, I should think, shouldn't you?