ow she was transfigured with some emotion he
could not follow. Her eyes were soft and dark, and her pale face, sad
and sweet, was instinct with the tenderness of her coming maternity. The
sturdy plainsman thrilled with unutterable pity as he looked down upon
her.

There was a silence, and then Rivers came to Bailey's side, and said,
brokenly,

"Rob, old man, you've done me good--you always _have_ done me good--I'll
be faithful to her, so help me God!"

Bailey understood him, and shook his hand. They stood for a moment, palm
to palm, as if this were in some sense a marriage ceremony. Bailey broke
the tension by saying:

"Well, now get your team--I wouldn't let you take her out into the cold
only I know she ought to be where a doctor can be reached. The quicker
you go the better."

While Rivers was gone he turned to her and helped her with her cloak and
shawl. His heart went out toward her with a brother's love. He talked
with cheerful irrelevancy and bustled about, heating a bowlder for her
feet and warming her overshoes.

"Now it's all right. Jim will take care of you. Don't worry about Will;
I'll go over and see him." He wrapped her in every available blanket and
shawl, and at last helped her outside and into the sleigh. He tucked the
robe around her while Rivers held the restless horses. His voice
trembled as he said:

"Now, Jim, get her under shelter as quick as you can. Leave the team at
Wheatland. I'll come after it in a day or two. I want to see somebody in
town, anyway."

The woman turned toward him. He saw her eyes shine through her veil. She
bared her hand and extended it toward him. "I hope you and Estelle will
be happy."

He covered her hand with both of his. The gesture was swift and tender.
It seemed to shield and forgive. Then drawing the robe over it without a
word, he briskly said, "Well, Jim, I guess this is the fork in the
road," and he looked at his chum with misty eyes. Rivers turned away,
and they again clasped hands without looking at each other.

"Good-bye, old man," said Rivers.

"Good-bye, Jim, and _good luck_!"

Bailey saw his partner draw the woman close down under the shelter of
his shoulder, while his powerful hand whirled the team to the south.

He stood in the lee of the shanty until the swift sleigh was a slowly
moving speck on the plain, then he went in and sat down to muse on the
wondrous last look in the woman's eyes. "I wonder what Estelle will
say?" he asked himself