es what he
gets here to go where he'd have it ten times easier--but he laughs at
'em. He sure is one preacher that ain't afraid of work!"

As Watts's team plodded the hot miles of the interminable trail
Patty's brain revolved wearily about its problem. "I've made almost a
complete circle of the cabin, and I haven't found the rock ledge with
the crack in it yet--and as for daddy's old map--I've spent _hours_
trying to figure out what that jumble of letters and numbers mean,
I'll just have to start all over again and keep reaching farther and
farther into the hills on my rides. Mr. Bethune said I might not
recognize the place when I come to it!" she laughed bitterly. "If he
knew how that photograph has burned itself into my brain! I can close
my eyes and see that rock wall with its peculiar crack, and the
rock-strewn valley, and the lone tree--_recognize_ it! I would know it
in the dark!"

Her eyes rested upon the various packages of her load of supplies.
"One more trip to town, and my prospecting is done, at least, until I
can earn some more money. The prices out here are outrageous. It's the
freight, the man told me. Five cents' freight on a penny's worth of
food! But what in the world can I do to make money? What can anybody
do to make money in this Godforsaken country? I can't punch cattle,
nor herd sheep. I don't see why I had to be a _girl_!" Resentment
against her accident of birth cooled, and her mind again took up its
burden of thought. "There is one way," she muttered. "And that is to
admit failure and take Mr. Bethune into partnership. He will advance
the money and help with the work--and, surely there will be enough for
two. And, I'm not so sure but that--" She broke off shortly and felt
the hot blood rise in a furious blush, as she glanced guiltily about
her--but in all the vast stretch of plain was no human being, and she
laughed aloud at the antics of the prairie dogs that scolded and
barked saucily and then dove precipitously into their holes as a lean
coyote trotted diagonally through their "town."

What was it they had said at Thompson's about Mr. Bethune? Despite
herself she had approved the outlandishly dressed preacher with the
smiling blue eyes. He was so big, and so wholesome! "The Bishop of All
Outdoors," Thompson had called him. She liked that--and somehow the
name seemed to fit. Looking into those eyes no one could doubt his
sincerity--his every word, his every motion spoke unbounded enthusias