ded as Charley sidled near. "Who is this Mr. Wiley?"

"Why--er--Wiley; Wiley Holman, you know. I followed his tracks to the
Gateway. Ain't he around here somewhere? I found this bottle----" He
held up the flask that he had given to Wiley, and the Colonel started
back with a cry.

"What, a tall young fellow with leather puttees?"

"Oh, yes, yes!" answered Virginia, suddenly springing to her feet again.
"We followed him--isn't he here?"

The Colonel turned slowly and glanced at the cave, where Wiley was still
hiding close, and then he cleared his throat.

"Well, kindly explain first why you should be following this gentleman,
and----"

"Oh, he's here, then!" sighed Virginia and fell into her father's arms,
at which Charley scuttled rapidly away.

"Mr. Holman," spoke up the Colonel, as Wiley did not stir, "may I ask
you to come out here and explain?"

There was a rustle inside the cave and at last Wiley came out, stuffing
a strip of dried meat into his hip pocket.

"I'll come out, yes," he said, "but, as I'm about to go, I'll leave it
to your daughter to explain."

He picked up his canteen and started down to the water-hole, but the
Colonel called him sternly back.

"My friend," he said, "it is the custom among gentlemen to answer a
courteous question. I must ask you then what there is between you and my
daughter, and why she should follow you across Death Valley?"

"There is nothing between us," answered Wiley categorically, "and I
don't know why she followed me--that is, if she really did."

"Well, I did!" sobbed Virginia, burying her face on her father's breast,
"but I wish I hadn't now!"

"Huh!" grunted Wiley and stumped off down the trail where he filled his
canteen at the pool. He was mad, mad all over, and yet he experienced a
strange thrill at the thought of Virginia following him. He had left her
smiling and shaking hands with Blount, but a curse had been on the
money, and her conscience had forced her to follow him. It had been
easy, for her, with a burro to ride on and Death Valley Charley to guide
her; but with him it had been different. He had fled from arrest and it
was only by accident that he had won to the water-hole in time. But yet,
she had followed him; and now she would apologize and explain, as she
had explained it all once before. Well, since she had come--and since
the Colonel was watching him--he shouldered his canteen and came back.

"My daughter tells me," began the Colonel form