have
been hours later, to find myself tied--and I got loose, and saw Long
Bill Kearney beside the river, and I flew back to the horses, and just
as I was about to escape, there stood that unspeakable Purdy, grinning
at me." Alice paused and pressed her hands to her eyes as if to keep out
the sight, "And, oh, the things he told me--the awful things--the
threats--the promises--that were worse than the threats. I must have
lost consciousness again--for the next thing I remember--I was here in
this room, and you were bending over me."

The two listeners had sat spellbound by the narrative and at its
conclusion, Janet McWhorter leaned forward and took one of Alice's
hands in both of hers. And when Alice looked again into the girl's eyes
lifted to her own, she read something akin to adoration in their depths.

The girl's lips moved: "And you did that--risked your
life--everything--to save his life--to keep him from being shot!"

"It wasn't anything," protested Alice. "It was the least I could do. He
risked his life for ours--Win's and mine--last year--and--why, I love
that boy--like a sister. I never had a brother and--I need one."

"And maybe he needs--a sister," murmured Janet softly. And at the words
Alice Endicott glanced swiftly into the girl's face, and her eyes glowed
suddenly with the light of great understanding. Her own troubles were
forgotten, and into her heart welled a mighty gladness. She pressed the
hands that held her own.

"Do you know him?" she whispered.

The girl nodded: "Yes--a little. He borrowed one of our horses--and I
rode with him when he went back to get you and bring you to the ranch.
And I rode to the edge of the bad lands with him when he took Purdy's
trail. And then he sent me back."

"Then, he _is_ safe! Oh, I'm glad--glad! Purdy told me he had drowned,
but I didn't believe him. I knew he would come to my rescue." She paused
and her face clouded, "but, now, I am safe and he is in danger. Purdy
may kill him----"

"Don't you go frettin' about that, deary," broke in Jennie. "If they's
any killin' to be done between them two, Tex'll do it. Purdy's a gunman
all right, but he'll never git Tex. Tex is the best man--an' Purdy knows
it--an' his kind ain't never no good when they're buffaloed."

"But, he might shoot him from ambush!"

"He better do it all to one shot, then. 'Cause, believe me, Tex, he'll
hit the ground a-shootin'! An' now you two make yerselves to home while
I run out an' tel