and turning saw Kate. There was something in
their faces which made them strangely alike. A marvellous grace and
dignity came to Mrs. Daniels as she rose.

"My dear!" she said.

"I'm so happy!" whispered Kate.

"Yes, dear! And Dan?"

"He's sleeping like a child! Will you look at him? I think the fever's
gone!"

They went hand in hand--like two girls, and they leaned above the bed
where Whistling Dan lay smiling as he slept. On the floor Black Bart
growled faintly, opened one eye on them, and then relapsed into
slumber. There was no longer anything to guard against in that house.

* * * * *

It was several days later that Hal Purvis, returning from his scouting
expedition, met no less a person that Sheriff Gus Morris at the mouth
of the canyon leading to the old Salton place.

"Lucky I met you, Hal," said the genial sheriff. "I've saved you from
a wild-goose chase."

"How's that?"

"Silent has jest moved."

"Where?"

"He's taken the trail up the canyon an' cut across over the hills to
that old shanty on Bald-eagle Creek. It stands--"

"I know where it is," said Purvis. "Why'd he move?"

"Things was gettin' too hot. I rode over to tell him that the boys was
talkin' of huntin' up the canyon to see if they could get any clue of
him. They knowed from Joe Cumberland that the gang was once here."

"Cumberland went to you when he got out of the valley?" queried Purvis
with a grin.

"Straight."

"And then where did Cumberland go?"

"I s'pose he went home an' joined his gal."

"He didn't," said Purvis drily.

"Then where is he? An' who the hell cares where he is?"

"They're both at Buck Daniels's house."

"Look here, Purvis, ain't Buck one of your own men? Why, I seen him up
at the camp jest a while ago!"

"Maybe you did, but the next time you call around he's apt to be
missin'."

"D'you think--"

"He's double crossed us. I not only seen the girl an' her father at
Buck's house, but I also seen a big dog hangin' around the house.
Gus, it was Black Bart, an' where that wolf is you c'n lay to it that
Whistlin' Dan ain't far away!"

The sheriff stared at him in dumb amazement, his mouth open.

"They's a price of ten thousand on the head of Whistlin' Dan,"
suggested Purvis.

The sheriff still seemed too astonished to understand.

"I s'pose," said Purvis, "that you wouldn't care special for an easy
lump sum of ten thousand, what?"

"In Buck Daniels's house!" bur