himself from unwelcome evening callers.

"We'll have to take down the wires," Frosty murmured, coming back to where
I waited. "Got your gun handy? Yuh might need it before long." Frosty was
not warlike by nature, and when he advised having a gun handy I knew the
situation to be critical.

We took down a panel of fence without interruption or sign of life at the
house, not more than fifty yards away; Frosty whispered that they were
probably at supper, and that it was our best time. I was foolish enough to
regret going by without chance of a word with Beryl, great as was my
haste. I had not seen her since that day Frosty and I had ridden into
their picnic--though I made efforts enough, the Lord knows--and I was not
at all happy over my many failures.

Whether it was good luck or bad, I saw her rise up from a hammock on the
porch as we went by--for, as I said before, King's house was much closer
to the trail than was decent; I could have leaned from the saddle and
touched her with my quirt.

"Mr. Carleton"--I was fool enough to gloat over her instant recognition,
in the dark like that--"what are you doing here--at this hour? Don't you
know the risk? And your promise--" She spoke in an undertone, as if she
were afraid of being overheard--which I don't doubt she was.

But if she had been a Delilah she couldn't have betrayed me more
completely. Frosty motioned imperatively for me to go on, but I had pulled
up at her first word, and there I stood, waiting for her to finish, that
I might explain that I had not lightly broken my promise; that I was
compelled to cut off that extra sixty miles which would have made me,