."

"I am glad that he has friends, then, for he will be cared for in his
misfortune."

"Yes, Doctor Dick, and the agent hinted that some one was coming out to
look him up."

"I rejoice at this, for he needs care," the doctor rejoined, and he
added:

"I have been convinced that he was no ordinary individual, and had been
well reared; but what a blow it will be to his friends to find him as he
is, poor fellow."

After some further conversation Harding went to his cabin for the night;
but he was not long in discovering that he was regarded as a hero by
all.

He had not made the slightest reference to having met old Huckleberry at
the Dead Line, and as he thought over the fact that he had done so, and
the secret that was known to him alone, he muttered to himself:

"If they only knew, what a sensation it would be for Last Chance, yes,
and for W---- as well, not to speak of the masked road-agent chief and
his men, who thus far have been playing a winning game; but luck
sometimes turns, and I guess it is nearing the turning-point now, and
will come our way."

Harding reported for duty promptly when the time came around for him to
take the coach again on its perilous run.

"We have got considerable gold-dust aboard, pard, and a big outgoing
mail, so I hope you will go through all right," said Landlord Larry,
while Doctor Dick, who just then came up, said:

"Yes, Harding, I have several valuable letters in the mail with drafts
for large sums which I sincerely hope will not miscarry."

"I'll do the best I can, Doctor Dick," was the answer, and Harding went
out and mounted the box.

He could not but feel gratified at the size of the crowd that had
gathered to see him depart, and he raised his sombrero politely in
response to the cheers.

He had gone through in safety once; but could he do it a second time?
That was the thought in the brain of every man there assembled.

At last the word was given, and away went the coach, cheered all the way
down the valley until it was out of sight.

As before, the young driver lost no time on the trail, but upon reaching
the Dead Line, instead of seeming to dread the spot and wishing to drive
rapidly by, he dismounted from the box, and, going to the cross, felt
about among the wild flowers growing about it until he picked up a slip
of paper, while he hastily read what he found written thereon.

Taking from his pocket a similar slip, on which there was writing, he
thrust i