h you, Dick, and take our team to the corral," said Roger.

"Don't be a fool!" growled Dick. "I'll take them without any help. If
I've got to board 'em, I'll do the work for 'em. Don't you butt in!" He
mounted one of his own horses and stringing the others behind, he rode
off under the starlight.

"For the Lord's sake!" exclaimed Roger, following Ernest into the tent,
"what's the matter with Dick?"

Ernest tossed a pile of mail onto the trunk beside the candle. "I
haven't the remotest idea. He was as jolly as usual when we had our
supper at sunset. About an hour ago I spoke to him and he took my head
off. I haven't tried him since. Sweet for poor Charley."

"I didn't know he was subject to grouches," mused Roger. "Say, Ern,
before I read the mail, I've got some news for you."

"Qui-tha done some real work?" asked Ernest with a yawn.

"Oh, Qui-tha! I'd forgotten him. He departed that morning without a
farewell. We have, however, another guest, who is at this moment asleep
in her own tent, near the cook house."

"Get out, Roger! It's too late for joking. Let me get to bed."

"A regular lady, Ern, six feet two or three in height and as near as I
can make out she's here for keeps. She's Von Minden's wife."

Ernest stopped yawning. "Who the deuce is Von Minden?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention him. He's the man who tried to shoot me
yesterday."

Ernest stared at Roger incredulously. "Rog, what's the matter with you?
You're positively maudlin."

Roger chuckled. "Next time you want excitement, Ernie, don't go to
Archer's Springs. Stay right at home here in the God-forsakenest spot on
earth. Now I'll make my story as short as I can, but you've got to hear
it to-night. I can't sleep with it on my chest and she's liable to break
loose with something any time."

He finished his story as rapidly as possible, Ernest's consternation
growing as he proceeded.

"But, my Lord, Rog, she can't stay here!" he cried.

"So I told her. So Charley told her. But she's here. In her tent. On her
air mattress. Her rocking chair beside her. Her books on occultism at
her head."

"I was going to ask you to read that letter from Washington to-night,"
said Ernest, feebly, "but I feel that I need immediate rest. I'll go up
in the morning to see Dick and if he still has his grouch with him, I'll
bring him back to tackle the lady."

Roger yawned. "Guess I will leave the mail until morning. That woman
has exhausted me more than any job we've