all needed information from Scott's signal, raised his
hand quickly. "Not at all," he exclaimed, leaning forward to emphasize
his words and adding the full orbit of his eye to his sincerity of
manner. "Not at all, Satt. This is all friendly, all friendly. But,"
he coughed slightly, as if in apology, "if Henry shouldn't turn up all
right, we'll--ahem--be back."

None of his companions needed to be told how to get prudently away. At
a nod from Lefever Tommie Meggeson, Elpaso, and Wickwire wheeled their
horses, rode rapidly back to the turn near the hill and, facing about,
halted, with their rifles across their arms. Lefever and Kennedy
followed leisurely, and the party withdrew leaving Satterlee, unmoved,
in the sunny doorway. Once out of sight, Lefever led the way rapidly
down the Gap to the rendezvous.

Of all the confused impressions that crowded Nan's memory after the
wild night on Music Mountain, the most vivid was that of a noticeably
light-stepping and not ungraceful fat man advancing, hat in hand, to
greet her as she stood with de Spain, weary and bedraggled in the
aspen grove.

A smile flamed from her eyes when, turning at once, he rebuked de
Spain with dignity for not introducing him to Nan, and while de Spain
made apologies Lefever introduced himself.

"And is this," murmured Nan, looking at him quizzically, "really Mr.
John Lefever whom I've heard so many stories about?"

She was conscious of his pleasing eyes and even teeth as he smiled
again. "If they have come from Mr. de Spain--I warn you," said John,
"take them with all reserve."

"But they haven't all come from Mr. de Spain."

"If they come from any of my friends, discredit them in advance. You
could believe what my enemies say," he ran on; then added ingenuously,
"if I had any enemies!" To de Spain he talked very little. It seemed
to take but few words to exchange the news. Lefever asked gingerly
about the fight. He made no mention whatever of the crimson pool in
the road near Sassoon's hut.

CHAPTER XXIX

PUPPETS OF FATE

The house in the Gap that had sheltered Nan for many years seemed
never so empty as the night she left it with de Spain. In spite of his
vacillation, her uncle was deeply attached to her. She made his home
for him. He had never quite understood it before, but the realization
came only too soon after he had lost her. And his resentment against
Gale as the cause of her leaving deepened with every hour that he sat