he was alert; under his affected nonchalance nerves
were set for instant action. He was in the heart of the enemy's country,
in the crude stronghold of the Law, and if anything hostile to him
occurred it would happen quickly. And he was familiar with the town,
because he had on more than one occasion ridden through and explored it,
but never before at such an early hour.

Arriving at his destination he dismounted and, leaving his horse
unrestrained by rope or strap, walked boldly up to the door of the
sheriff's house and knocked. Soon he heard footsteps within and the
door opened wide, revealing him standing hat in hand and smiling.

"Good evening, ma'am," he said uneasily.

The sheriff's wife stepped aside and the light fell full on his face.
For an instant she was at a loss, and then the fresh scar on his forehead
and her husband's good description came to her aid. She gasped and
stepped back involuntarily, astonished at his daring. Her act allowed
her companions to see him and the effect was marked. Miss Ritchie sat
upright in expectation, her face beaming, for this was as romantic and
unexpected as she could wish. Mary gasped and dropped her hands to her
side, not knowing what to do or say, while Helen slowly laid her work
aside and leaned forward slightly, regarding him intently, a curious
expression on her face.

"I only called to ask how the ladies were," he continued slowly, turning
his hat in his hands, apparently not noticing Mrs. Shields' surprise.
"I was afraid they might have--that their recent experience might have
bothered them some."

Evidently it was to be only a social call, and Mrs. Shields owed something
to this fair-minded and chivalrous man. She smiled kindly, remembering
that the caller was rather well thought of by her husband--he was not a
man for women to fear, whatever else he might be.

"It is very kind of you," she replied. "Won't you come in?" she asked from
the habit of politeness, hardly expecting that he would do so.

"Thank you, I will be glad to for a minute," he responded, slowly stepping
into the room, where he suddenly felt awkward and not at all comfortable.

Helen picked up her work to fasten a thread, and he found himself
marveling at the cleverness of her fingers. Again laying the work
aside, she arose to meet him, a mischievous twinkle in her dark eyes.
It was so unusual to have been saved by an outlaw whom her brother had
tried to capture, and still more unusual to hav