was off at a rapid lope toward the Two
Diamond.

CHAPTER XIX

THE SHOT IN THE DARK

Now that Mary Radford had obtained experience for the love scene in her
story it might be expected that on returning to the cabin she would get
out her writing materials and attempt to transcribe the emotions that
had beset her during the afternoon, but she did nothing of the kind.
After Ferguson's departure she removed her riding garments, walked
several times around the interior of the cabin, and for a long time
studied her face in the looking glass. Yes, she discovered the
happiness shining out of the glass. Several times, standing before the
glass, she attempted to keep the lines of her face in repose, and
though she almost succeeded in doing this she could not control her
eyes--they simply would gleam with the light that seemed to say to her:
"You may deceive people by making a mask of your face, but the eyes are
the windows of the soul and through them people will see your secret."

Ben hadn't eaten much, she decided, as she seated herself at the table,
after pouring a cup of tea. Before she had finished her meal she had
begun to wonder over his absence--it was not his custom to go away in
the night. She thought he might have gone to the corral, or might even
be engaged in some small task in the stable. So after completing her
meal she rose and went to the door, looking out.

There was no moon, only the starlight, but in this she was able to
distinguish objects in the clearing, and if Ben had been working about
anywhere she must have noticed him. She returned to the table and sat
there long, pondering. Then she rose, heated some water, and washed
and dried the dishes. Then she swept the kitchen floor and tidied
things up a bit, returning to the door when all was complete.

Still no signs that Ben was anywhere in the vicinity. She opened the
screen door and went out upon the porch, leaning against one of the
slender posts. For a long time she stood thus, listening to the
indescribable noises of the night. This was only the second time since
she had been with Ben that he had left her alone at night, and a slight
chill stole over her as she watched the dense shadows beyond the
clearing, shadows that seemed suddenly dismal and foreboding. She had
loved the silence, but now suddenly it too seemed too deep, too solemn
to be real. She shuddered, and with some unaccountable impulse shrank
back against the screen