the kitchen window," Marian whispered tensely. "I was
afraid you hadn't read my note, or perhaps wouldn't pay any attention to
it. I heard you and Jerry--of course he won't dare go with you and show
you the short-cut, even if he knows it. There's a quicker way than
up the creek-bed. I have Boise out in the bushes, and a saddle. I was
afraid to wait at the barn long enough to saddle him. You go--he's
behind that great pile of rocks, back of the corrals. I'll wait for
Jerry." She gave him a push, and Bud was so astonished that he made no
reply whatever, but did exactly as she had told him to do.

Boise was standing behind the peaked outcropping of rock, and beside
him was a stock-saddle which must have taxed Marian's strength to carry.
Indeed, Bud thought she must have had wings, to do so much in so short a
space of time; though when he came to estimate that time he decided that
he must have been away from the house ten minutes, at least. If Marian
followed him closely enough to see him duck behind the machine shed and
meet Jerry, she could run behind the corral and get Boise out by way of
the back door of the stable. There was a path, screened from the corral
by a fringe of brush, which went that way. The truth flashed upon him
that one could ride unseen all around Little Lost.

He was just dropping the stirrup down from the saddle horn when Marian
appeared with Jerry and Sunfish close behind her. Jerry held out the
package.

"She says she'll show you a short cut," he whispered. "She says I don't
know anything about it. I guess she's right--there's a lot I don't know.
Lew 's gone, and she says she'll be back before daylight. If they miss
Boise they'll think you stole him. But they won't look. Dave wouldn't
slam around in the night on Boise--he thinks too much of him. Well--beat
it, and I sure wish yuh luck. You be careful, Marian. Come back this
way, and if you see a man's handkerchief hanging on this bush right here
where I'm standing, it'll mean you've been missed."

"Thank you, Jerry," Marian whispered. "I'll look for it. Come, Bud--keep
close behind me, and don't make any noise."

Bud would have protested, but Marian did not give him a chance. She
took up the reins, grasped the saddle horn, stuck her slipper toe in
the stirrup and mounted Boise as quickly as Bud could have done it--as
easily, too, making allowance for the difference in their height. Bud
mounted Sunfish and followed her down the trail which led t