In the meantime, little Barbara, in her new home, was growing
gradually away from all that had gone before her long ride in the
big wagon with the men. Already she was beginning to talk of her
"other mamma and papa." Mrs. Worth slipped into the other woman's
place in the childish heart, even as little Barbara filled the empty
mother-heart of the woman.

Toward Mr. Worth, though she no longer shrank from him in fear, the
little girl maintained an attitude of questioning regard. With Texas
or Pat or the boy Abe, who often went together to see her, she
laughed and chattered like a good little comrade and play-fellow.
But when the Seer came, as he did whenever his duties and his
presence in town would permit, she flew to him with eager love,
climbing on his knee or snuggling under his arm with entire
confidence and understanding.

Public interest in Rubio City, keen at first, died out quickly.
Rubio City, in those days of railroad building, had too many things
of interest to retain any one thing long. Still, because it was
Jefferson Worth, Rubio City could not altogether drop the matter. So
it was one evening in the Gold Bar saloon, where Pat, coming into
town for a quiet evening from the grading camp on the new road, and
Texas Joe, who was just back from another trip across the Desert,
were having a friendly glass in a quiet corner.

"Is there anythin' doin' in that San Felipe I don't know?" was Pat's
natural question. "Things is that slow in this danged town I'm
gettin' all dead on me insides."

Texas grinned in his slow way. "There'll be another pay day before