mained was so scarred and seamed that it
scarcely bore any resemblance to a human countenance.

His one remaining eye was large, dark and glowing with kindness as he
bent over the victim of his partner's latest joke.

"Ye-ah," drawled old Doc Smithers, precipitating a large mouthful of
brown liquid into the fireplace. "Bob, he'll pet 'im, an' that ol'
bulldog o' his'n 'ull lick im, an' next thing we know Bob'll be givin'
'im a claim, just like he took in Handsome Harry hisself goin' on two
years ago. Look at the dandy, struttin'! Bob buys 'im all them fancy
togs an' loves to see 'im wearin' 'em. White hands, an' red cheeks, an'
straight nose like a gal. Swan, ef he wasn't so ornery an' long-limbed
I'd a mind to call 'im one. Ef 'twant for his hidin' behind Bob so,
I'd--"

What he'd have done was never known, for the whole room-full of
prankish, loud-voiced, roistering men was suddenly struck dumb by the
unwonted sound of a lady's voice out in the darkness.

Bull-doze reached her first, Bob next, and Handsome Harry third. She was
only a slip of a young thing and the fright she got from the kindly
rush of the old bulldog was immeasurably increased by Bob's frightful
caricature of a face. She turned, shuddering, to the handsome,
richly-decked young Englishman.

"My father and mother, sir, are very ill. I was going after a doctor,
but I am tired out. I can go no further. Oh, could one of you go on to
Angel's, whilst I rest with some lady of your town?"

Harry was apparently speechless from the thrall of her fresh young
beauty, because it was Bob who answered.

"You certainly can, Miss! Grizzley Bob's word on that. Where'd you come
from?"

"From Roundtree's, sir," timidly. Bob had turned to call orders through
the open door and the girl gasped as the strong, manly profile of the
unscarred half of his face was turned toward her. Bull-doze licked her
white fingers, and she stooped to pat his ugly head so that the long
curls at her temple might hide her face from the look in Hal's bold
eyes.

"Hey, Antelope Bill, saddle that ewe-necked cayuse of yours and vamoose,
pronto, after the doctor. Plug Hat Pete, you've got the best cabin in
town. We'll want it for the lady."

"Help yourself, Grizzley," answered the gambler. "It is a privilege."

"I am to stay with Mrs.--Pete?" asked Becky, anxiously.

"Child, you're a-going to be as safe as if there was a lady in this
law-evadin' camp; which there isn't, exceptin' your o