Jessie. You know the trail I was going to take--straight across to Wild
Horse Lake. From there you strike across to North Fork--and if I don't
overtake you on the way, I'll hit camp some time in the night. It's all
plain sailing."

CHAPTER 13. Rowdy Finds Happiness.

Miss Conroy was rather listlessly endeavoring to persuade the First
Reader class that "catch" should not be pronounced "ketch," when she saw
Rowdy ride past the window. Intuition of something amiss sent her to the
door before he reached it.

"Can't you give the kids a day off?" he began, without preface. "I've
got such a lot to talk about--and I don't come very often." He thought
that his tone was perfectly natural; but all the same she turned
white. He rode on to a little tree and tied his horse--not that it was
necessary to tie him, but to avoid questions.

Miss Conroy went in and dismissed the children, although it was only
fifteen minutes after nine. They gathered up their lunch-pails and
straggled out reluctantly, round-eyed, and curious. Rowdy waited until
the last one had gone before he went in. Miss Conroy sat in her chair
on the platform, and she was still white; otherwise she seemed to have
herself well in hand.

"It's about Harry," she asserted, rather sharply.

"Have they--caught him?"

Rowdy stopped half-way down the aisle and stared. "How did you know they
were--after him?"

"He came to me night before last, and--told me." She bit her lip, took
firm hold on her honesty and her courage, and went on steadily. "He
came because he--wanted money. I've wanted to see you since, to tell you
that--I misjudged you. I know all about your--trouble, and I want you
to know that I think you are--that you did quite right. You are to
understand that I cannot honestly uphold--Harry. He is--not the kind of
brother--I thought."

Rowdy went clanking forward till only the table stood between. "Did he
tell you?" he demanded, in a curious, breathless fashion.

"No, he did not. He denied everything. It was Pink. He told me long
ago--that evening, just after you--the last time I saw you. I told him
he--lied. I tried not to believe it, but I did. Pink knew I would; he
said so. The other night I asked Harry about--those things he did to
you. He lied to me. I'd have forgiven him--but he lied. I--can't forgive
that. I--"

"Hush!" Rowdy threw out a gloved hand quickly. He could not bear to let
her go on like that.

She looked up at him, and all at once