de with you?" he asked a few moments
later, as he led her horse, bridled and saddled, to his own.

"Why certainly. I should be glad to have you. And we can talk."

"Of love?"

The girl laughed: "No, not of love. Surely there are other things----"

"Yes, for instance, I may again warn you that you are in danger."

"Danger?" she glanced up quickly.

"From Vil Holland." They had mounted, and turned their horses toward a
long divide.

"Oh, yes, from Vil Holland," she repeated slowly, as she drew in
beside him. "I had almost forgotten Vil Holland."

"I wish to God I could forget him," retorted the man, viciously. "But,
as long as you remain unprotected in these hills I shall never for one
moment forget him. Your secret is not safe. Your person is not safe.
He dogs your footsteps. He visits your cabin during your absence. He
is bad--_bad!_ And here I must tell you of an incident--or rather
explain an incident, the unfortunate conclusion of which you saw with
your own eyes. Poor Clen! He is beside himself with mortification at
the sorry spectacle he presented when you rode up and saw him crawl
dripping from the creek.

"I was away to the northward, on important business, and knowing that
it had become my custom to ride over occasionally to see how you
fared, he decided to do the same during my absence. Arriving at the
cabin, he was surprised to see Vil Holland's horse before the door. He
rode boldly up, dismounted, and caught the scoundrel in the act of
searching among your effects. The sight, together with the memory of
the cut pack sack, enraged him to such an extent that, despite the
fact that the other was armed, he attacked him with his fists. In the
fighting that ensued, Holland, being much the younger and more agile,
succeeded in pitching Clen over the edge of the bank into the creek.
Whereupon, he leaped into the saddle and vanished.

"When Clen finally succeeded in reaching the bank and drawing himself
over the top, he was horrified to see you approaching. Above all
things Clen is a gentleman, and rather than appear before you in his
bedraggled condition, he fled. Upon my return he insisted that I see
you and explain the awkward situation to you in person. I beg of you
never to refer to the incident in Clen's presence, especially not in
levity, for he has, more strongly than anyone I ever knew, the
Englishman's horror of appearing ridiculous."

Patty smiled: "It was too funny for words. The way he gave on