"Did you win the championship?" the girl asked eagerly.

"No. Finals to-morrow. Sanborn an' me. How's the arm? Bone broken?"

"Yes. Oh, it aches some. Be all right soon."

He drew her letters from his pocket. "Stopped to get your mail at the
hotel. Thought you'd like to see it."

Wild Rose looked the envelopes over and tore one open.

"From my little sister Esther," she explained. "Mind if I read it?
I'm some worried about her. She's been writing kinda funny lately."

As she read, the color ebbed from her face. When she had finished
reading the letter Kirby spoke gently.

"Bad news, pardner?"

She nodded, choking. Her eyes, frank and direct, met those of her
friend without evasion. It was a heritage of her life in the open that
in her relations with men she showed a boylike unconcern of sex.

"Esther's in trouble. She--she--" Rose caught her breath in a stress
of emotion.

"If there's anything I can do--"

The girl flung aside the rug that covered her and rose from the chair.
She began to pace up and down the room. Presently her thoughts