I want to see him, too, and--and if you're not mighty
good, and nice to me, I'll see what I can do cutting you out.
Remember, too, I'm not quite on the shelf yet--in spite of what folks
may say. Off with you!"

Helen needed no second bidding. She snatched up her books, took a
swift glance at herself in the small mirror on the wall, and hastened
out of the house.

"So long, Kitty," she cried lightly; "my nets are spread for the big
fish, my dear. He's there, slumbering peacefully in the shady pool,
waiting to be caught. Do you think he's ever been fished before? I
hope he's not wily. You see, I'm so out of practice. That's the worst
of living in a place where men have to get drunk before they have the
courage to become attentive. And, Kitty, dear----"

"Off with you, you man hunter," cried Kate, from her place at the
table, "and don't you dare ever to call me 'Kitty' again. I----"

But the door was closed, and further expostulation was useless. The
next moment Kate beheld a waving hand through the window. She
responded, and, a moment later, as her sister passed from view, the
smile died out of her eyes.

She sat on at the table, although her meal was finished. And somehow
all her gaiety had dropped like a mask from her face, leaving her
handsome eyes strangely thoughtful and something hard.

* * * * *

Meanwhile Helen crossed the river by the quaint log footbridge which
had been one of the first efforts at construction upon which Kate had
embarked on arrival at Rocky Springs. It was stout, and, from a
distance, picturesque. Close to it was a trap for the unwary. For the
two sisters, and their hired men, it was a simple matter for
negotiation. They were used to its pitfalls, which increased with
every spring flood.

Beyond this the track wound through the bush on its way to the village
main trail, but Helen had no thought of adopting such a circuitous
route when the bush offered her a far more direct one. She vanished
into the wood like a flitting shadow, nor did she reappear until half
the slope up to Charlie Bryant's house had been negotiated.

Her reappearance was in the midst of a small clearing, whence she had
an uninterrupted view of Charlie's house, and a less clear view of the
winding track leading up to it.

Somehow, by the time she reached this spot, a marked change had come
over her. Her pretty, even brows were slightly drawn together in an
odd, thoughtful pucker. He