with Charley than with any boy he had ever known.
Suddenly Roger put his long arm across Charley's fine shoulders.

"Charley, you old dear!" he said. "I am mighty fond of you! You're the
best man I know."

Charley said nothing for a moment. She reached up to clasp the hand that
hung over her shoulder, then she turned to look into Roger's face and
there was that in her eyes that held him speechless. There was in them
Felicia's innocence and Felicia's eternal query. There was Charley's own
sweetness and wistfulness, but back of these were burning depths of
which Roger as yet had no understanding but they stirred him so
profoundly that he paled beneath his tan.

"I'm glad you're fond of me, Roger. I'm fond of you." Charley's voice
was gentle.

Roger's hand tightened on the girl's. "You are very beautiful," he said,
a little breathlessly. "Even with your face all dust, and in khaki, you
are beautiful."

"I am glad," replied Charley with a smile that showed her white teeth.

Roger did not speak again for a long time, but he did not release
Charley's hand until she said, "Roger, the storm is going down."

Then he rose and stood staring at her until, smiling again, she said,
"If you'll push your friend Peter out of the spring, I'll see if I can
get clean water for us."

CHAPTER XV

RABBIT TAIL'S GANG

The dust storm died down almost as rapidly as it had risen. By four
o'clock the three were on their way home across the strange sea of sand.
They had reached the home range before Roger said to Charley,

"By Jove, you never did show me the Indian writing! What do you mean by
such subterfuge? Couldn't you think of any other way to entice a man for
a stroll?"

"There were inscriptions all around you!" exclaimed Charley. "You were
leaning against the drawing of a horse, all the afternoon. Where were
your eyes?"

"That portion of them not blinded by sand was on you, my dear."

"Tut! Tut! Don't try freshman blarney on me, Roger! I'm getting too old
for it. Besides one man doesn't blarney another."

Roger looked at Charley quickly. "Hum!" he said, "I'm not at all sure
but what you're totally feminine and that I'm a fool."

"Here's the home trail," said Charley. "I hope they haven't worried
about us."

Elsa was waiting supper for them and the look of relief on her face as
they came in at the door told the story of the day's anxiety.

"Gustav and I have been frantic!" she said. "You poor things! Where did