ubted him--she, who loved him! This was the
man with whom she had quarreled because he had carried a jug. Suddenly
she realized why he had turned away from her--there in the little
cabin. She recalled the words that came slowly from his lips, as, for
a brief moment he stood holding her hand. "There is nothing for you in
the hills." "And now, he is going away--his outfit's all packed, and
he's going away!" With a sob she dashed from the office. As she
blotted the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief that had been her
father's, a wild, savage joy surged up within her. He should _not_ go
away! He was hers--_hers_! If he went, she would go too. He should
never leave her! And never, never would she doubt him again!

She glanced down the street and her eyes fell upon Lightning, standing
as he had stood a few minutes before. Only a moment she hesitated, and
her spurs clicked rapidly as she hurried down the sidewalk. The door
of the saloon stood open and she walked boldly in. Vil Holland stood
at the bar shaking dice with the bartender. The latter looked up
surprised, and Vil followed his glance to the figure of the girl who
had paused just inside the doorway. She beckoned to him and he
followed her out onto the sidewalk, and stood, Stetson in hand,
regarding her gravely, unsmiling as was his wont.

"Vil--Vil Holland," she faltered, as a furious blush suffused her
cheeks. "I've changed my mind."

"You mean----"

"I mean, I will marry you--I wanted to say it--last
night--only--only----" her voice sounded husky, and far away.

"But, now, it's too late. It was different--then. I didn't know you'd
made your strike. I thought we were both poor--but, now, you've struck
it rich."

"Struck it rich!" flared the girl. "Who made it possible for me to
strike it rich? Don't you suppose I know you relinquished that claim?
Relinquished it so I could file it!"

"Old Grebble talks too much," growled the man. "The claim wasn't any
good to me. I never went far enough in to get samples like those of
your dad's. I'd have relinquished it anyway, as soon as I'd located
another."

"But, you knew it was rich when you did relinquish it."

"A man couldn't hardly do different, could he?"

"Oh, Vil," there were tears in the girl's eyes, and she did not try to
conceal them. The words trembled on her lips. "A man couldn't--your
kind of a man! But--they're so hard to find. Don't--don't rob me of
mine--now that I've found him!"

A shrill whis