ave until he was certain that Tige lay there, and that he was alone.

"Well, he's taken the pup along, then; and that proves to me that Jerry
wasn't crazy, or anything like that. He's just pulled out, because he
couldn't stand it around here any longer--and I don't blame him. But I
wish I knew where; we'd take him up to the mine with us; huh?"

"Yes--but we're about fourteen hours too late to find out where he went.
If I'm any judge, these bodies have been dead that long. And if we
found him, the chances are he wouldn't go. If I'm any good at guessing
poor Jerry's state of mind, right now, he don't want to see or speak to
any human being on earth."

"I guess you're right," Jack assented, after a meditative pause. "He
just worshiped that poor little woman."

Beyond that, neither of them attempted to put into speech the tragedy;
it was beyond the poor words we have thus far coined for our needs, like
many another thing that happens in these lives we live. They waited a
little while longer, wondering what they could or should do.

Mrs. Jerry lay easily where she had been placed by the man who loved
her. The killers had been killed by the same hand that laid her deep, in
her faded, patchwork quilt. There seemed nothing further to be done.

But Valencia, when he had ridden a thoughtful half-mile, did think of
something.

"Me, I shall give ten pesos of the gold I won yesterday upon the duelo,"
he said, glancing back at the grim little cabin, "that mass may be said
for the repose of the Senora Seem'son's soul. For thus will sleep come
easier to me, Senors. And you?"

"I think, Valencia, if I were going to say any prayers, they'd be said
for Jerry," Dade told him. "He needs 'em worse than she does."

"Oh, come on, Dade; let's be getting out of this valley!" Jack urged
irritably. "And I hope," he added, "I'll never see the place again!"

"But, Senor!" Valencia rode alongside to protest almost tearfully, "The
valley, it is not to be blame. Saw you ever a sweeter land than this?"
He flung his arm outward to include the whole beautiful expanse of it.
"The valley, it is glorious! Am I not right? Blame not the beautiful
land, Senor, for the trouble that has come; for trouble will find a man
out, though he climb the loneliest mountain peak and hide himself among
the rocks there! And the valley--Senors, the valley will hold friends
that are true to thee."

Jack flushed at the reproach; flushed and owned himself wrong. "I'll