what's three
out of twenty-seven. There's no kick coming to that. Guess a feller
would be all sorts of a fool----"

"If he didn't take all that's coming his way at a dance," broke in the
doctor's genial voice, with a laugh.

The wagon was abreast of him, and Julyman's eyes were studiously
concerned with the glowing heart of the fire. But nothing escaped them.
Nothing ever did escape them. He closely scanned the occupants of the
wagon. Dr. and Mrs. Ross were in the back seat, and their two daughters
were facing them. Hervey Garstaing was driving, and Nita Allenwood was
sitting beside him. It was all just as it had been earlier in the
evening when he had seen them set out for Deadwater.

Oh, yes. It was all the same--with just a shade of difference. Nita was
sitting close--very close to the teamster. She was sitting much closer
than when Steve, earlier in the evening had tucked the rug about her to
keep the chill summer evening air from penetrating the light dancing
frock she was wearing. They were both tucked under one great buffalo
robe now. It was a robe he knew to be Hervey Garstaing's.

As the vehicle passed the fire Dr. Ross flung a genial greeting at the
two Indians. Julyman responded with a swift raising of his eyes, and one
of his broad, unfrequent smiles. Then, as the wagon passed, his eyes
dropped again to the fire.

He knew. Oh, yes, he knew. Had he not sat with many squaws who seemed
desirable in his eyes? Yes, he had sat just so. Close. Oh, very close.
Yes, he was glad his boss had taken himself off. Maybe he was looking
down into the depths of the basket which held the little white pappoose
back there in his home. It was good to look at the little pappoose when
there was trouble at the back of a father's eyes. It made the trouble
much better. How he hated the white man, Hervey Garstaing.

* * * * *

For once Julyman's instincts were at fault. He had read the meaning of
Steve Allenwood's sudden departure in the light of his own
interpretation of the trouble he had seen in the man's grey eyes. He was
entirely wrong.

Steve had heard the approaching wagon, and he knew that his wife and the
other folk were returning from the dance. But almost at the same instant
he had detected the sound of horses' hoofs in an opposite direction. It
was in the direction of his home. Julyman had missed the latter in his
absorbed interest in the return of these folk from Deadwater.

Stev