weakly through the gate. On the driver's seat sat a haggard,
begrimed figure holding the reins in his right hand; and in his lap,
supported by his free arm, a little girl lay fast asleep. Then as
one of the mules lay down, the men went forward on the run.

Texas stared at them dully for a moment. Then, as he dropped the
reins, his parched, cracked lips parted in what was meant for a
smile and he said, in a thick, choking whisper: "We made it, boys:
we jest made it. Somebody take the kid."

Eager hands relieved him of his burden and he slid heavily to the
ground to stand dizzily holding on to a wheel for support.

One of the men said sharply: "But where's Mr. Worth, Tex? What have
you done with Jefferson Worth an' what you doin' with a kid?"

Texas Joe gazed at the questioner steadily as if summoning all his
strength of will in an effort to think. "Hello, Jack! Why--damned if
I know--he was with me a little while ago."

The engineer, the banker, the Irishman and the boy were lying
unconscious on the bottom of the wagon.




CHAPTER III.

MISS BARBARA WORTH.