d Mr. Gale,
hotly. "Such a thing would not be tolerated in the East. Mr. Belding,
I'm amazed at your attitude in the face of all this trickery."

"You see--there was mother and Nell," began Belding, as if apologizing.
He dropped his head a little and made marks in the sand with the toe of
his boot. "Mr. Gale, I've been sort of half hitched, as Laddy used to
say. I'm planning to have a little more elbow room round this ranch.
I'm going to send Nell East to her mother. Then I'll-- See here, Mr.
Gale, would you mind having Nell with you part way when you go home?"

"We'd all be delighted to have her go all the way and make us a visit,"
replied Mr. Gale.

"That's fine. And you'll be going soon? Don't take that as if I
wanted to--" Belding paused, for the truth was that he did want to
hurry them off.

"We would have been gone before this, but for you," said Mr. Gale.
"Long ago we gave up hope of--of Richard ever returning. And I
believe, now we're sure he was lost, that we'd do well to go home at
once. You wished us to remain until the heat was broken--till the
rains came to make traveling easier for us. Now I see no need for
further delay. My stay here has greatly benefited my health. I shall
never forget your hospitality. This Western trip would have made me a
new man if--only--Richard--"

"Sure. I understand," said Belding, gruffly. "Let's go in and tell
the women to pack up."

Nell was busy with the servants preparing breakfast. Belding took her
into the sitting-room while Mr. Gale called his wife and daughter.

"My girl, I've some news for you," began Belding. "Mr. Gale is leaving
to-day with his family. I'm going to send you with them--part way,
anyhow. You're invited to visit them. I think that 'd be great for
you--help you to forget. But the main thing is--you're going East to
join mother."

Nell gazed at him, white-faced, without uttering a word.

"You see, Nell, I'm about done in Forlorn River," went on Belding.
"That blast this morning sank my spring. There's no water now. It was
the last straw. So we'll shake the dust of Forlorn River. I'll come on
a little later--that's all."

"Dad, you're packing your gun!" exclaimed Nell, suddenly pointing with
a trembling finger. She ran to him, and for the first time in his life
Belding put her away from him. His movements had lost the old slow
gentleness.

"Why, so I am," replied Belding, coolly, as his hand moved down to the
sheath