could be terribly stern if it were not so tender. He seemed to be
smiling--not with his mouth, exactly, but away inside of his mind--and
the smile showed just a little bit, at the corner of his lips. His
chin was the Lorrigan chin absolutely; a nice chin to look at, with a
little, long dimple down the middle. A chin that one would not want to
oppose, would not want to see when the man who owned it was very
angry.

Mary Hope had gone just so far in her analysis when Lance turned his
head abruptly, unexpectedly, and looked full into her eyes.

"Don't be afraid, girl. Don't worry about the lie--about anything. It
was a sweet little lie--it makes you just human and young and--sweet.
Let them scold you, and smile, 'way down deep in your heart, and be
glad you're human enough to tell a lie now and then. Because if you
hadn't, we wouldn't be driving all these miles together to save you a
little of the scolding. Be happy. Be just a little bit happy to-night,
won't you, girl--you lonely little girl--with the blue, blue eyes!"

There it was again, that vibrant, caressing note in his voice. It was
there in his eyes while he looked at her, on his lips while he spoke
to her. But the next moment he looked ahead at the trail, spoke to
Rosa who had flung her head around to bite pettishly at Subrosa, who
snapped back at her.

Mary Hope turned her face to the starlit rangeland. Again she breathed
quickly, fought back tears, fought the feeling that she had been
kissed. All through the silent ride that followed she fought the
feeling, knew that it was foolish, that Lance knew nothing whatever
about that look, that tone which so affected her. He did not speak
again. He sat beside her, and she felt that he was thinking about her,
felt that his heart was making love to her--hated herself fiercely for
the feeling, fought it and felt it just the same.

"It's just a way he has with him!" she told herself bitterly, when he
swung the team up in front of the section house and helped her down.
"He'd have the same way with him if he spoke to a--a rabbit! He doesna
mean it--he doesna know and he doesna care!"

"Thank you, Mr. Lorrigan. It was very kind of you to bring me." Her
voice was prim and very Scotch, and gave no hint of all she had been
thinking.

"I'm always kind--to myself," laughed Lance, and lifted his hat and
drove away.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

IN WHICH LANCE FINISHES ONE JOB

In the Traffic saloon, whither Lance had gone