emper an' impulse. Anyway, he made himself so
good that Old Bill changed his mind, after what he swore that day, an'
set another day for the weddin'. Right off, then, Collie goes down on
her back.... They didn't send for me very soon. But when I did get to
see her, an' felt the way she grabbed me--as if she was drownin'--then I
knew what ailed her. It was love."

"Love!" gasped Moore, breathlessly.

"Sure. Jest love for a dog-gone lucky cowboy named Wils Moore!... Her
heart was breakin', an' she'd have died but for me! Don't imagine, Wils,
that people can't die of broken hearts. They do. I know. Well, all
Collie needed was me, an' I cured her ravin' and made her eat, an' now
she's comin' along fine."

"Wade, I've believed in Heaven since you came down to White Slides,"
burst out Moore, with shining eyes. "But tell me--what did you
tell her?"

"Well, my particular medicine first off was to whisper in her ear that
she'd never have to marry Jack Belllounds. An' after that I gave her
daily doses of talk about you."

"Pard! She loves me--still?" he whispered.

"Wils, hers is the kind that grows stronger with time. I know."

Moore strained in his intensity of emotion, and he clenched his fists
and gritted his teeth.

"Oh God! this's hard on me!" he cried. "I'm a man. I love that girl more
than life. And to know she's suffering for love of me--for fear of that
marriage being forced upon her--to know that while I lie here a helpless
cripple--it's almost unbearable."

"Boy, you've got to mend now. We've the best of hope now--for you--for
her--for everythin'."

"Wade, I think I love you, too," said the cowboy. "You're saving me from
madness. Somehow I have faith in you--to do whatever you want. But how
could you tell Collie she'd never have to marry Buster Jack?"

"Because I know she never will," replied Wade, with his slow, gentle
smile.

"You _know_ that?"

"Sure."

"How on earth can you prevent it? Belllounds will never give up
planning that marriage for his son. Jack will nag Collie till she can't
call her soul her own. Between them they will wear her down. My friend,
_how_ can you prevent it?"

"Wils, fact is, I haven't reckoned out how I'm goin' to save Collie. But
that's no matter. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. I will do
it. You can gamble on me, Wils. You must use that hope an' faith to help
you get well. For we mustn't forget that you're in more danger
than Collie."

"I _will_ gamble