itress was skillfully arranging glasses after methods entirely
different from those of the sullen youth.

"Don't jazz the game any more--not with _me_," growled Crowley, fury in
his manner. "And I want to see you in private."

She stiffened, facing him. She knew that Latisan's earnest eyes were on
her. She assumed the demeanor of a girl who was resentfully able to take
care of herself, playing a part for the benefit of the drive master.
"Attend strictly to your end of the program, Crowley!"

"What do you mean--my end?"

"Protecting me from insults by these rough woodsmen. I suppose you are
doing the same for Miss Elsham." Her irony was biting. He scowled and
put his face close to hers.

"If you're up here on the job--it's not a lark. It's a case of he-men in
these parts. If you're not careful you'll start something you can't
stop."

"Keep away from me. They're watching us. You're bungling your part
wretchedly. Can't you understand that I'm on the case, too?"

She had planned her action, forestalling possibilities as well as she
was able. She was determined to be bold, trusting to events as they
developed.

"You will kindly remember that I'm on this case along with you, and you
can't make me jump through hoops!" Crowley, fresh from the city, narrow
in his urban conceit, was seeing red because of a petty humiliation he
had suffered in public.

Another man was seeing red for a different reason. Latisan strode across
the room, nabbed Crowley by the ear, and led him into the tavern office,
where the aching ear was twisted until the city man subsided into a
chair.

The girl appraised at its full value the rancor that was developing in
the Vose-Mern operative; his glaring eyes were accusing her.

But the adoring eyes of Latisan promised really more complicated
trouble for her.

It was borne in on her that there were dangerous possibilities in the
frank atmosphere of the north woods. Lida had the poignant feeling of
being very much alone just then--and she was afraid!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Suppers were always over with early in Adonia. The red west was banded
with half on hour's April daylight when the new waitress finished her
work. She hurried up to her room; she locked her door with the
panic-stricken air of one who desires to shut out danger.

She was in no mood to question the worthiness of the impulse which had
sent her into the north, but she was realizing in fuller measure the
difficulties with