, not in his death."

"Yes, I know that, but it hurts one to think it had to be--that all his
splendid gifts and capabilities should end like this, and that we are
forced to see it is best. He might have done so much."

"And instead he became a miscreant. I reckon there was a lack in him
somewhere."

"Yes, there was a great lack in him somewhere."

They were silent for a time. She broke it to ask about York Neil.

"You wouldn't send him to prison after doing what he did, would you?"

"Meaning what?"

"You say yourself he helped you against the other outlaws. Then he
showed you where to start in finding the buried money. He isn't a bad
man. You know how he stood by me when I was a prisoner," she pleaded.

He nodded. "That goes a long way with me, Miss Mackenzie. The governor
is a right good friend of mine. I meant to ask him for a pardon. I
reckon Neil means to live straight from now on. He promised Leroy he
would. He's only a wild cow-puncher gone wrong, and now he's haided
right he'll pull up and walk the narrow trail."

"But can you save him from the penitentiary?"

Collins smiled. "He saved me the trouble. Coming through the Canon Del
Oro in the night, he ducked. I reckon he's in Mexico now."

"I'm glad."

"Well, I ain't sorry myself, though I helped Bucky hunt real thorough
for him."

"Father will be pleased to know you got the treasure back," Alice said
presently, after they had ridden a bit in silence.

"And your father's daughter, Miss Alice--is she pleased?"

"What pleases father pleases me." Her voice, cool as the plash of ice
water, might have daunted a less resolute man. But this one had long
since determined the manner of his wooing and was not to be driven from
it.

"I'm glad of that. Your father's right friendly to me," he announced,
with composure.

"Indeed!"

"Sho! I ain't going to run away and hide because you look like you don't
know I'm in Arizona. What kind of a lover would I be if I broke for
cover every time you flashed those dark eyes at me?"

"Mr. Collins!"

"My friends call me Val," he suggested, smiling.

"I was going to ask, Mr. Collins, if you think you can bully me."

"It might be a first rate thing for you if I did, Miss Mackenzie. All
your life you haven't done anything but trample on sissy boys. Now,
I expect I'm not a sissy boy, but a fair imitation of a man, and I
shouldn't wonder but you'd find me some too restless for a door-mat."
His maimed hand happened