thing of the situation at a glance.

"Stop that laughing," she cried severely.

Helen's laugh died out, and she sighed deeply. The next moment she
stood up, and began to smooth out her tattered frock.

"I'm--all right now--Kate," she said almost humbly. "But----"

Again Kate took charge of the situation.

"Go and change your frock before you tell me anything," she said
decidedly.

Helen was about to protest, but the quiet command of her sister had
its effect. She moved toward the door, and Kate's serious tones
further composed her.

"Take your time," she said. "You can tell me later."

Helen left the room, and Kate remained gazing after her at the closed
door.

But it was only for a few moments. The sound of footsteps approaching
the house startled her. She remembered the torn condition of her
sister's dress. The poor girl had been on the verge of hysterics. "The
man hunter hunted!" she had cried.

Kate glanced at her revolvers hanging on the wall. Then, with a shrug,
she flung open the door.

Big Brother Bill was standing outside it. He had removed his hat, and
the evening light was shining on his good-looking fair head. His wide
blue eyes were smiling their most persuasive smile as he held two
books out toward her.

"I'm fearfully sorry to trouble you, but I was just coming along down
from up there," he pointed back across the river, "and saw a--a lady
suddenly jump up as though she was scared some, and run on down the
hill toward this house. I guessed it must have been a--a rattler
or--or maybe a bear, or something had scared her, so I jumped in
to--to find it. I was too late, however. Couldn't find it. Only found
these two books instead. I just followed the lady on down here,
and--well, I brought 'em along."

The man's manner was so frankly ingenuous, and his whole air so
hopelessly that of a tenderfoot that Kate recognized him at once.
Instantly she held out her hand with a smile.

"Thanks, Mr. Bryant. They're my sister's. She was taking them up to
your brother. It's very kind of you to take so much trouble. Won't you
come in, and let her thank you herself? You see, we're great friends
of your brother's. I am Kate Seton, and--the lady you so gallantly
sought to help is my sister--Helen."

CHAPTER XIII

LIGHT-HEARTED SOULS

A pair of gray eyes were struggling to glare coldly into a pair of
amiably smiling blue eyes. It was a battle of one against an opponent
who had no idea battle was