e Indians, and did, but Jose had dropped the old Navy Colt at
the ford. They bought Dago's silence for awhile, for he, too, hated
Willett, and it was so easy to charge the crime to 'Tonio. But, when
they fell out among themselves, and the pistol was found, and then Case
was accused, Dago let loose on Munoz, and the secret of the attempted
murder was out.

For a time thereafter Case felt dazed, benumbed; but, as Willett
recovered, he took courage again, and more drink, and tried to shoot
his worthless head off, he said, when they came to arrest him. But when
he heard of Willett's doings at Prescott, and had been openly taunted
by Dooley, he determined to lose his life another way, if need be, in
bringing Willett to justice. He told it all to Wickham, and was amazed,
yes, amazed at the result. He never dreamed that Willett at the
eleventh hour would go to Estelle and make the only amend in his power.

For that matter, neither did any one else cognizant of the fact,
especially Harris, who, having been the unwilling recipient of all poor
Eastern Stella's confidences in the past, believed Willett still
haunted by memories of her, and knew not this new and innocent and
confiding Star of the West. He had his own sorrows to bear, and his
heart was bitter within him at sight of the woe in the sweet blue eyes
of the girl who speedily went back to Almy, without ever having opened
her heart to a soul except that devoted mother.

While Evelyn Darrah kept her room as much as a week after Willett's
going, it was a wonderful fact that, during a visit of four days,
Lilian Archer appeared in public with her father, rode, drove, played
croquet, though she managed to avoid two dinners and a dance. She was
very quiet, it is true. "She never _did_ shine in society," said the
Prime girls. But, under all this silence and fortitude, and the access
of tenderness with which she clung to her father, Mrs. Stannard and
others saw how near the little heart was to breaking, and there grew up
among the exiles a feeling of love and admiration for this
uncomplaining child, so suddenly grown old, that outlived the lives of
most of them, for it has come down to those who, in the fulness of
time, stepped into their places. They are gone now, nearly all--our
bearded general and his beloved Mary, gruff old Stannard and his wise
and winsome wife. Bright, Bonner, Bucketts, grim-visaged Turner,
white-haired, noble Archer and his fond and cherished Bella, even