she knew nothing she could always assure herself that the
suspicion that had just crossed her mind was an absurdity. Without
another word, followed by Olive and Donald, they entered the rancho.

At ten o'clock the party was going successfully. But Ruth found her
interest waning; it seemed almost time for Jim to come home.

She _must_ see him alone to tell him that life was worth while to her
now only because of his love. Jim was not like other men, he was better
and braver and stronger; the woman who loved him believed she trusted
him utterly.

It was a clear, starlit night without a moon. Silently Ruth slipped away
from the familiar company, and wrapping a white shawl around her, stole
from the house along the trail.

A man came down the path toward her and she ran forward with hands
outstretched to meet him. Then she stopped short, her heart fluttering
and her knees trembling.

CHAPTER XXIII

"THEIR LAST RIDE TOGETHER"

"Good evening, Miss Drew," some one said politely.

Ruth drew in her breath. "Good evening," she returned coldly.

"Kind of surprised to see me?" "Gypsy Joe" inquired. "You have been
having great goings on about the ranch lately. I could have told you
about your gold mine in the early part of the summer, but I knew this
man Harmon would give me a better show than your overseer if I put him
on to my discovery and he got your ranch away from you."

Ruth turned irresolutely and then faced the man again. "Please don't
talk to me of your dishonesty," she protested, "and do get off the ranch
right away. You know what Mr. Colter told you." Ruth had a frightened
vision of Jim's returning to find this tramp lurking about the rancho,
and knew she would have small chance for a quiet evening with her lover
after such a catastrophe.

"Look here, Miss Drew, don't you think you might speak a good word to
your overseer and the young ladies for me?" Dawson whined. "Seems like
it isn't fair for me to have been the first to discover that gold mine
and not to have any share in it."

Ruth shrugged her shoulders. "We really can't help that. If you had told
Mr. Colter of it first I am sure he would have been fair with you.
Surely it is not our fault that you have cheated yourself in trying to
cheat us. I really don't see how we owe you anything!"

"Jim Colter, as he calls himself, owes me a whole lot. Say, I'm hard up.
Do you think you could get Colter to give me a job as a miner?" "Gypsy
Joe" urged.