on a burro, was
Virginia. He looked out again as the Colonel swore an oath and then she
leapt off and ran towards them.

"Oh--_Father_!" she cried and hung about his neck while the
astonished Colonel kissed her doubtfully.

"Well, well!" he protested as she fell to weeping, "what's the cause of
all this distress? Is your mother not well, or----"

"We--we thought you were _dead_!" she burst out indignantly, "and
Charley there knew--all the time!"

She let go of her father and turned upon Death Valley Charley, who was
solicitously attending to Heine, and the Colonel spoke up peremptorily.

"Here, Charley!" he commanded, "let that gluttonous cur wait. What's
this I hear from Virginia? Didn't you tell her I was perfectly well?"

"Why--why yes, sir; I did, sir," replied Charley, apologetically,
"but--she only thought I was crazy. I told her, all the time----"

"Oh, Charley!" reproached Virginia, "didn't you know better than that?
You only said it when you had those spells. Why didn't you tell me when
you were feeling all right--and you denied it, I know, repeatedly!"

"The Colonel would kill me," mumbled Charley sullenly. "He told me not
to tell. But I brought you the whiskey, sir; a whole big----"

"Never mind the whiskey," said the Colonel sharply. "Now, let's get to
the bottom of this matter. Why should you think I was dead when I had
merely absented myself----"

"But the body!" clamored Virginia. "We got word you were lost when your
burro came in at the Borax works. And when we hired trackers, the
Indians said you were lost--and your body was out in the sand-hills!"

"It was that cursed camp-robber!" declared the Colonel with conviction.
"Well, I'm glad he's gone to his reward. It was only some rascal that
came through here and stole my riding burro--did they care for old Jack
at the Works? Well, I shall thank them for it kindly; and anything I can
do--but what's the matter, Virginia?"

She had drawn away from him and was gazing about anxiously and Charley
had slunk guiltily away.

"Why--where's Wiley?" she cried, clutching her father by the arm. "Oh,
isn't he here, after all?"

"Wiley?" repeated the Colonel. "Why, who are you talking about? I never
even heard of such a man."

"Oh, he's dead then; he's lost!" she sobbed, sinking down on the ground
in despair. "Oh, I knew it, all the time! But that old Charley----" She
cast a hateful glance at him and the Colonel beckoned sternly.

"What now?" he deman