regard for its own safety. After the mines which had given it birth had been worked out, it became the depot of supplies for the widespread miles of ca

ch numbers and so energetically that its few contented and improvident Mexicans, thrust to one side, sank into hopeless nonentity. When Lucy B

gardless of the floods that occasionally swept down the canyon during the Summer rains. At first its growth had been up and down the creek; afterward cross streets had been extended far out on either side, especially where gradua

there was such possibility of flood, the people continued to live and do business along the bottom of the gulch. The

, years before, when a mighty torrent roared down the gulch, carried away most of the houses, and drowned a dozen souls. "But the

aren't you afraid there will be another flood that will des

years here it never went dry at all. Just look at these flood-marks," and he pointed out to her on the side of the brick building that housed her father's bank the lines to which had risen t

day after her arrival Tillinghurst had told Bancroft that his daughter was "the prettiest piece of dry goods that had ever come to Golden,

om the west. She had no definite fear of the floods nor, after her first few weeks in the place, did she so much as think of danger from such a source. She liked the site on the mesa, although i

care and responsibility for me, and that we'd better board. But I said if a girl eighteen years old wasn't old enough and big enough to begin to take care of her father she never would be, and so he gave up. And now!

uld have a home together. Your father hasn't had an easy life, dear. You could never guess all that he has been through. But he is a strong and determined man, and he's finally won success-just

to hear you say so-and oh, Dearie, I'm going to make such a beautiful home out of this place!" Lucy looked about, her girlish face glowi

e girl's hope of a lawn and flowers, trees and shrubbery, in the near future. A little conservatory jutted from the southern side of the house, while a deep veranda ran halfway across the eas

hen they do occur, are apt to be marked by an overflowing measure of enthusiasm and loyalty. Louise Dent had been the intimate friend of Lucy's mother and, after her death, had given the bereaved girl such love and care and sympathy as had won her instant and ardent devotion, and the relationship thus established had grown stronger and closer as the years passed and Lucy matured into womanhood. The girl's enthusiastic

tle breeze, she pointed out to Louise the statuesque sapphire mass of Mangan's Peak against the turquoise blue of the eastern sky, and told her of the drive thither and back she and her father had taken a fortnight before, and of their call at Socorro Springs ranch. "It's an interesting place," she went on; "such a huge ranch! Why, its grazing rights extend more than a hu

showed him in her conservatory the collection of cactus plants she had begun to make and listened with eager interest while he gave her information about the growth of the species she already had, and told her where she coul

plause and encouragement from the others. Lucy sparkled and dimpled, and her color rose, while Curtis's eyes darkened and flashed. Miss Dent, watching them, realized what an attractive young woman Lucy had grown to be, and how much she had blossomed out even in the few months since their last parting. "She will have plenty of admi

noted especially the strong, firm jaw and chin, saying to herself that they betokened a strength of will and constancy of purpose that fo

s of their wives," Louise asked, "or a

en look upon the whole thing as a good joke. If Mrs. Turner, for instance, cooks up some new scheme for getting the bett

e interesting and charming. She asked if they ever visited the ranch. "Yes," said Curtis; "Ned and his wife come up for a few days every Spring. This year they'll be there after the round-up is over and t

the Mexicans are present in large numbers, as in New Mexico, he adopts from the other's language a good many words which soon supplant their English equivalents. An evening party of any sort, whether a public dance in the town hall, a select affair in the house of a prominent resid

of the bold theft of Conrad's mare, the chase and capture of Melgares, and the wounding of Gaines. "It is thought that poor Jack cann

t on to tell how the Mexican had lost his little ranch. Lucy li

k of their being turned out of their homes in that way, with nothing to fall back on! I don't wonder

seen no more than a flicker of his eyelids as his face took on a stony impassiveness. But they w

xter knows when he loans the money that the poor wretches will never be able to pay back a cent of it. He wouldn't loan it to them if he thought they could, for it's their land he's after. I've heard that

siness, and I'm surprised that Mr. Baxter

should remember that the business of the loan mortgage companies has the full sanction of law and

r Mexicans, they are so helpless. Why, it's almost like stealing their homes. I'm sorry, daddy, to speak so about Mr. Baxter, but that's really the way I feel about it; I suppose he doesn't realize what an injury h

ess, for I can't help feeling a sort of responsibility. If the fellow is hung his family will be left destitute. Yes, he has a wife and four children," he continued in answer to Miss Dent. "I ha

f sympathy. "The poor things!" she exclaimed. "W

at Randall. "It's a characteristic New Mexican tale," said Curtis, turning to the ladies. "You'll soon find out, Miss Bancrof

Bancroft irritably, "why is he

ll, a respected citizen, holding office, with influence in the community, when, behold, it is discovered that just before coming here he had skipped

es," observed

rt was beating loudly. The moment's pause that followed seemed to her so long tha

e?" asked Lucy, with surprise.

eply and Bancroft hurriedly asked Cu

the range toward Pelham. We'll begin shipping within two or three weeks. But something s

ooking for work. He came the day you had the chase after Melgares and was in again to-day. H

's looking for work," laughed Conrad. "If he

on the steps of the front ver

row a rope; I'm obliged to you already, and I'd like to do you a good turn. I'll meet you down town presently, and if you kno

g on the plain only a little way beyond the town. Its brilliant silv

ight, through this wonderful moonlig

lous moon, like that over there. I hope we can have a ride by moonlight together, some time, when the moon is full. Does Miss Dent ride?" His voice went back to its usual tone. "I know your father is a fine rider. Perhaps we can make up a p

they were trembling. And later that night, when she looked out from her window at the white moon floating in the violet sky, suddenly her

r walked to the gate and pointed out the streets he was to follow. As he finished Gonzalez be

h upon a half-formed and most secret desire startled him for an instant out of his usual self-control. Heretofore he had merely dallied with the thought that Conrad's removal would mean his own safety, for the rest of his life. It had appeared to him

g you," was hi

rama taking the limelight. Miss Dent added that he was handsome enough for a matinee idol, and Conrad declared that there was no telling how many se?oritas' hearts he had already broken. Bancroft turned to

know nothing about it," he blurted out, uncertainly. "If Do

orget our talk." There was no reply, and the Mexican, whistling a Spanish love tune, dis

landscape, which he did not see. Over and over he was saying to himself that he had no idea what Dellmey Baxter had said to this Mexican, and, whatever it was, he had distinctly told

he should carry the man behind him to the ranch that night. Before Bancroft's inward eye a sudden vision opened: wide miles of silent plain, a great white moon hanging low in the sky, a long stretch of deserted road, and then two men on a single horse-and the light gleaming on a long knife! He shuddered

ut of sight, and Liberato Herrara would be back in his own home, unsuspected and silent. Some excitement would follow, search would be made, a body would be found in a mesquite thicket,-and then the interest would die out, and there would be

out to Dell and she'll never know I've had anything to do with it," he thought. Then there came ringing through his memory, as he had heard them so many times since they rode home from the

"I'll be a fool if I don't stop him before he gets his chance at me!" With a sudden stirring of conscience he remembered that this man whose death he was so a

an affectionate hand on his arm. "Oh, daddy dear," she coaxed, "won't you come in and try this duet wit

pointment that crossed her face, and drew her hand into his arm. "It doesn't matter," he went on, "and I would rather stay at home." To himself