sat watching him until Lorry spoke.

"They say he's put more than one man across the divide," he told his
father.

"But not on an even break," said Waring. "Get that hombre on his horse.
He's in bad shape."

Lorry helped Waco to mount. They rode toward Stacey.

Waring rode with them until the trail forked. "I was on my way to the
Starr Ranch," he told Lorry. "I think I can make it all right with
Starr, if you say the word."

"Not me," said Lorry. "I stand by what I do."

Waring tried to conceal the smile that crept to his lips. "All right,
Lorry. But you'll have to explain to your mother. Better turn your man
over to Buck Hardy as soon as you get in town. Where did you pick him
up?"

"He was holdin' up some tourists over by the Notch. He changed his mind
and came along with me."

Waring rode down the west fork, and Lorry and the tramp continued their
journey to Stacey.

Chapter X

_East and West_

Mrs. Adams, ironing in the kitchen, was startled by a peremptory ringing
of the bell on the office desk. The Overland had arrived and departed
more than an hour ago. She patted her hair, smoothed her apron, and
stepped through the dining-room to the office. A rather tired-looking,
stylishly gowned woman immediately asked if there were comfortable
accommodations for herself and her daughter. Mrs. Adams assured her that
there were.

"We had an accident," continued the woman. "I am Mrs. Weston. This is my
daughter."

"You are driving overland?"

"We were. We have had a terrible time. A man tried to rob us, and we
almost wrecked our car."

"Goodness! Where did it happen?"

"At a place called 'The Notch,' I think," said Alice Weston, taking the
pen Mrs. Adams proffered and registering.

"I can give you a front double room," said Mrs. Adams. "But the single
rooms are cooler."

"Anything will do so long as it is clean," said Mrs. Weston.

Mrs. Adams's rosy face grew red. "My rooms are always clean. I attend
to them myself."

"And a room with a bath would be preferable," said Mrs. Weston.

Her daughter Alice smiled. Mrs. Adams caught the twinkle in the girl's
eyes and smiled in return.

"You can have the room next to the bathroom. This is a desert town, Mrs.
Weston. We don't have many tourists."

"I suppose it will have to do," sighed Mrs. Weston. "Of course we may
have the exclusive use of the bath?"

"Mother," said Alice Weston, "you must remember that this isn't New
York. I think we are fo