“Funny, now, ain’t it?” drawled Nevada. “Wal, did you run into the old man?”

“No, thank goodness.”

“Or anybody else who thinks you’re a low–down hoss thief?”

“No, I was lucky that way. Not even in Hammell. Met Strobel, the sheriff, and I swear I believe he’s my friend.”

“Good! Wal, then, what’s all this hollerin’ aboot? Looks to me you’ve no call to be down in the mouth.”

At that Ben dropped his head in shameful recollection. The momentary glow of hope and satisfaction faded away in a mounting tide of incredible disaster. To awaken to that awful trouble, and find that the night had only augmented it, was more than Ben could bear.

“Ben, I reckon you seen your sweetheart,” declared Nevada, as if enlightenment had come to him.

“Who—what?” stammered Ben, jerking up.

“Your kid sweetheart, as Hettie called her,” drawled Nevada, deliberately. “This young college dame who’s goin’ to be worth a million dollars. The girl them Hammell cowboys call the peach from Tule Lake Ranch.”

“Shut up, or I’ll soak you over the head with a chunk of firewood,” yelled Ben, frantically.

“Lord! you must have it bad!” ejaculated Nevada, shaking. “You’re shore full of gratitude. Say, if you go drivin’ me off, who’s goin’ to handle this heah love affair for you?”

Ben groaned and writhed. “Nevada, it’s terrible to hear you speak out—so—so—cold–blooded—as if—as if——”

“But, pard, you’re up in the air an’ I’ve got it figgered,” declared the cowboy, persuasively. “You did see Ina Blaine? Now confess up.”

“Yes. That’s what ails me,” rejoined Ben, abjectly.

“Aw, she wasn’t changed—stuck up like the rest of them Blaines? Don’t tell me Hettie made a mistake,” implored Nevada.

Ben straightened up suddenly as if goaded to expression of something that it was impossible to place credence in.

“Nevada, I did meet Ina Blaine. Twice, once at Hammell, and last night at home. She greeted me on the main street of Hammell, before her friends and lots of the other people—just as if nothing had happened. …Then last night when I was with Hettie in the yard Ina came. We were alone—I don’t know how long. It seems like a dream. But I’m not quite crazy. I remember facts…. She was sweet. Oh! she was wonderful! She set me on fire with her faith—her—her—I don’t dare think what. But she’s on my side, just as Hettie said. She’d already had a fight with her father in front of Less Setter, whom she heard call me a horse thief…. And, oh, she said so many things. We were interrupted before she’d said all she wanted to. My father came driving in and I had to run…. But I felt her hands on my shoulders—I saw her eyes in the moonlight … and, Nevada, I may be mad, but I believe Ina cares for me still.”

“Ahuh! An’ you fell in love with her all over again, deeper an’ a million times wuss?”

“That must be it,” whispered Ben, drawing his breath hard.