me!"

Carley leaped into the saddle and wheeled the mustang. But she had no
answer for the girl's singular, almost wild exultance. Then like a
shot the spirited mustang was off down the lane. Carley wondered with
swelling heart. Was her coming such a wondrous surprise--so unexpected
and big in generosity--something that would make Kilbourne as glad as it
had seemed to make Flo? Carley thrilled to this assurance.

Down the lane she flew. The red walls blurred and the sweet wind whipped
her face. At the trail she swerved the mustang, but did not check his
gait. Under the great pines he sped and round the bulging wall. At the
rocky incline leading to the creek she pulled the fiery animal to a
trot. How low and clear the water! As Carley forded it fresh cool drops
splashed into her face. Again she spurred her mount and again trees and
walls rushed by. Up and down the yellow bits of trail--on over the brown
mats of pine needles--until there in the sunlight shone the little gray
log cabin with a tall form standing in the door. One instant the canyon
tilted on end for Carley and she was riding into the blue sky. Then some
magic of soul sustained her, so that she saw clearly. Reaching the cabin
she reined in her mustang.

"Hello, Glenn! Look who's here!" she cried, not wholly failing of
gayety.

He threw up his sombrero.

"Whoopee!" he yelled, in stentorian voice that rolled across the canyon
and bellowed in hollow echo and then clapped from wall to wall. The
unexpected Western yell, so strange from Glenn, disconcerted Carley. Had
he only answered her spirit of greeting? Had hers rung false?

But he was coming to her. She had seen the bronze of his face turn to
white. How gaunt and worn he looked. Older he appeared, with deeper
lines and whiter hair. His jaw quivered.

"Carley Burch, so it was you?" he queried, hoarsely.

"Glenn, I reckon it was," she replied. "I bought your Deep Lake ranch
site. I came back too late.... But it is never too late for some
things.... I've come to wish you and Flo all the happiness in the
world--and to say we must be friends."

The way he looked at her made her tremble. He strode up beside the
mustang, and he was so tall that his shoulder came abreast of her. He
placed a big warm hand on hers, as it rested, ungloved, on the pommel of
the saddle.

"Have you seen Flo?" he asked.

"I just left her. It was funny--the way she rushed me off after you. As
if there weren't two--"

Was it G