people re-enacted the most primitive drama in the world. Indifferent to the jeers of his fellows, Roy devoted himself to the

t of his devotion was due, of course, to his sense of guilt, and yet this was only a small part. True, he had sent warnings and dire threats to silence his band of marauders; but he did not feel keenly

to her once; "I can't afford to

except to order the speaker about with ever-increasing tyranny. "You're so anxio

heavens! what'll I

oreman you must be, fooling round here

ut you. You're my only landmark these days. You're my sun, m

" she answered

u're my pink poison blossom. There ain't any feed that interests

ice you. He asked me to-day what you were

d you te

oy's hired man just help

man. I'm takin' care of you-wi

ot get ev

getting

never

ing my dues. I've got 'em all set down. You owe me

ed the current. "The meals you

you cook 'em. But let me ask you somethin

ttle bank-book. It's got to be a fat wad, and, mind you, no cloves on your breath, either. He's cr

call for mail. Stop it. Why, you'll have all the cow-punchers for fifty miles around calling for letters. That bunch that was in here just now was from Steamboat Spri

tized to handle the mail, so I must

ut me. I d

dn't complain

ell, I'm going to start a petitio

she answered, with a sly smile.

hobble to the window and sort the mail, but the do

id to Lida, "I think you'd better do

till came regularly to her table, bringing more than his share of provisions, however. She was a good deal puzzled by the ch

tter be the first to break the news." But each day found it harder to begin, and only the announcement of her intended departure one morning brought him to the hazard. He was beginning to fe

to Roy: "Seems to me I remember you. Did I know you before I was sick?" His memory had been aff

sed to get my mail here," a

more special than that. Someway your face is associate

in the office, Roy said to Lida, "They're g

on't m

ind o' dazed he is? They're going to get him out on a doctor's certificat

s! I don't wan

want to live

Colorado Springs is

What could I do to

ve to live th

ness, and finally said: "See here, Lida, I've got something to tell you. You heard the old man kind o' feelin' around in his old hay-mow

at

. I reckon I had a clove on my tongue that day, and was irritable, and when he lit onto me, I was hot as a hornet, and went away swearing to get square." He braced himself for the

drew away from him; "t

'ave done it. He didn't look sick the day before; besides, I didn't intend to hurt h

f-to think of that old man, helpless, an

ow he was ailin', and t

inted at him. "And you

I d

u d

claimed any credit for driving off that band of outlaws. That's one reason why

h, it is! You've said a doze

, on yours and twenty per cent, on

e come here another time. I never heard of anything more-more awful.

g playful or mocking in her tone at the moment. She saw him as he

wly, and went out withou