to the very rim of the world, the flat lands
stretched; and then beyond, in a golden haze, the stern mountains loomed,
almost kissing the sky. The range dwindled away in an endless line, and
one could never say where the boundary of Arizona stopped and the unseen
border of Mexico began. The two countries simply merged in the mist. It was
as if a battalion of petrified soldiers kept eternal guard in the sun, half
the line loping over into another camp, but never caring at all. In the
still heat of the afternoon, sagebrush lifted its bright face to the
heavens; and now and then a lonely bird swooped above the rich ranches and
desolate valleys, making a black dot against the sky. A soft wind was
blowing now, bringing mercy from the west, and silence brooded like an
angel, stretching out its wings as though to shelter a troubled world.

A young man with black hair and tanned skin came out in the yard, hatless.
A gray flannel shirt and a flowing tie, high leggings that laced through
many brass clips, completed his picturesque costume.

One look--and she knew it was Gilbert--_her_ Gilbert. He recognized her at
the same instant, and a curious light came into his dark eyes. She had been
thinking, all the way down the road, how she should greet him if indeed he
turned out to be that one man in the world. Calmly, yes. She was sure now
that Morgan knew and suspected nothing. It was simply a coincidence that
they should be coming to the adobe of this old love of hers. The long arm
of fate had reached out and snatched her into this ring. She knew that
Gilbert could meet the situation as seemingly unconcerned as she. There was
nothing at all to fear.

He was their host, and he greeted them as only a good host knows how.
Fortunately, Morgan wanted to go directly to his room. He was cross and
tired, he said, and he desired to freshen up.

She got out of the car, and "Red" rattled down to the home-made garage a
few rods away.

They were alone; and they stood there in the path for a moment, looking
into each other's eyes.

"He is my husband," Lucia then found herself saying. "I am now Mrs. Pell."

"What are we going to do?" Gilbert asked. He had the face of a dreamer, she
thought. The steel-gray eyes were full of fire and longing. What had these
few years done to him?

"We are going to do nothing at all. What _is_ there to do? We shall not be
here many days. If you'd rather we went back to Bisbee...."

"Oh, no! That would only