The Man of the Forest

overland train fully twenty-four hour

Helen to accept this rich uncle's offer. She had taught school and also her little brothers and sisters; she had helped along in other ways. And now, though the tearing up of the roots of old loved ties was hard, this opportunity was irresistible in its call. The prayer of her dreams had been answered. To bring good fortune to her family; to take care of this beautiful, wild little sister;

e claim or influence upon her mother, who favored his offer of marriage to Helen; he was neither attractive, nor good, nor industrious, nor anything that interested her; he was the boastful, strutting adventurer, not genuinely Western, and he affected long hair and guns and notoriety. Helen had suspected the veracity of t

k pride and flash of her temper. Opportunity knocked at her door and she meant to be at home to it. She would not have been Al Auchincloss's niece if she had faltered. And, when temper was succeeded by genuine anger, she could have laughed to scorn this Harve Riggs and his schemes, whatever they were. Once and for all she dismissed fear of him. When she left St. Joseph she had faced the West

pine forests and the red, rocky gullies and the dim, bold mountains. She saw the sun set over distant ranges of New Mexico-a golden blaze of glory, as new to her as the strange fancies born in her, thril

l the girls owned in the world. Indeed, it was very much more than they had ever owned before, because their mother, in her care for the

ore interest in the passengers. As it was she saw them, and was amused and thoughtful at the men and women and a few children in the car, all middle-class people, poor and hopeful, traveling out there to the New West to find homes. It was splendid and beautiful, this fact, yet it inspired a brief and inexplicable sadness. From the train

w in at the window; white stars began to blink out of the blue. The sisters, wi

e again delving into their apparently botto

in thrilling voice. "C

od to look at. Bo was little, instinct with pulsating life, and she had chestnut ha

onze face and bright-red scarf, his swinging gun, and the huge, long, curved spurs. Evidently he caught Bo's admiring gaze, for, with a word to his companions, he sauntered toward the window where the girls sat. His gait was singular, almost awkward, as if h

with slow, good-humored smile. "No

an-cut and droll geniality; see

take stage for the White

ll, intent eyes

I'm sorry. Thet's shore no place for you-al

of Al Auchinclos

n Magdalena way an' heerd of Al...

be home

Arizona cattle-man in a sheep country! Thet's bad.... Now I'm wonderin'-i

sed Helen. The last year or two, since Bo had grown prettier all the time, she had been a magnet for admiring glan

at he never had enough men to run

kon I'd jest naturall

yet Helen's quick perceptions registered a daring, a something that was both sudden

, occasionally cropped out; and Bo, who once in her wilful l

jerked, and started slowly. The cowboy took two long strides beside the car, his heated boyish face al

weetheart!

-was lost

itely, half sorry, half amused.

ushed bea

rious!" she burst ou

ce," replied Helen, much relieved that B

to look out of the window and to wave her hand. But

he'll come to Unc

e was onl

at! I'm going to love cowboys. They don't loo

y because Bo's future already called mysteriously to the child. Helen had to

driven Spaniards up there and starved them. Bo was intensely interested, and thereafter she watched more keenly than ever, and always had a question for a passing trainman. The adobe houses of the

peaceful!" she exclai

t want to see hostile Indi

t," was the f

'll be sorry I didn't

ou neve

f jabbering Mexicans, stalking, red-faced, wicked-looking cowboys, lolling Indians. In the confusion Helen would have been hard put to it to preserve calmness, with Bo to watch, and all that

trainman. "Better stay in the car-and don't

ing of freight-cars. Helen told herself, somewhat grimly, that soon she would know surely whether or not her suspicions of Harve Riggs had warrant. If he was going on to

s!" she whispered. "He's g

esterday," repli

lowed you

e left home now. We've got to take things as they come.

t speak-have anyth

if I can

ome hard-featured, poorly clad women, marked by toil, and several mor

mustache and hair. His apparel was striking, as it consisted of black frock-coat, black trousers stuffed in high, fancy-topped boots, an embroidered

he sat down upon the arm of the one opposite, took off his sombrero, and deliberately looked at Helen. His eyes were light, glinting, with hard, restless qu

he said. "Surpr

e replie

amble y

before I left home that nothing y

y woman I keep track of has rea

manded Helen, and her voice, despit

ere was as much thought of himse

It's useles

he passion of his voice there sounded egotism rather than hunger for a w

e way-to Pine?" faltered He

your trail from no

right, with pale fa

young voice. "I'll tell you what-I'll bet-if you follow her and nag he

. "I see your manners haven't improved

have good mann

at however her intelligence had grasped the possibilities of leaving home for a wild country, and whatever her determination to be brave, the actual beginning of self-reliance had left her spirit weak

looked out of the window. The man laughe

you. But if you've got any sense you'll not give these people out here a hunch against me. I might hurt someb

he idea that he considered himself a factor in her new life, it was the truth. He existed, he had control over his movements. She c

she turned her back upon him. She heard him mutter under his breat

ve Riggs. 'A four-flush would-be gun-fighter! If he ever strikes a real Western tow

e spirit which had made Bo incorrigible at home probably would make her react happily to life out

y, Bo, you were scared sti

love that fellow,"

fellows for a long time. And you've

... Nell, I'll bet

he was on this train.

our hopes up.... Oh, the train's starting!... Good-by, Albu-ker

to Bo's chatter, and partaking again of the endless good things to eat in the h

Helen saw all Bo pointed out, but it was to the wonderful rolling valley that her gaze clung longest, and to the dim purple distance that seemed to hold something from her. She had never before experienced any feeling like that; she had never seen a tenth so far. And the sight awoke something strange in her. The sun was burning hot, as she could tell when she put a hand outside the window, and a strong wind blew sheets of dry dust at the train. She gathered at onc

eing gaze out upon that land of rock and plain; and during the long hours, as she watched through clouds of dust and veils of heat, some strong and doubtful and

delight and romance and living. How could life ever be tedious or monotonous out here in this tremendou

compensation in other valleys, other bold, black upheavals of rock, and then again bare, boundless yellow plains, and sparsely cedared ridge

ng rivers, its unknown spaces, its pasture-lands and timber-lands, its wild horses, cowboys, outlaws, wolves and lions and savages! As to a boy, that name stirred and thrilled and sang to her of nameless, sweet, intangible thi

as to who would meet them, what would happen. So Helen was drawn back to sober realities, in which there was considerable zest. Assuredly she did not know what was going to happen. Twice Riggs passed up and down the aisle, his dark face and light eyes and sardonic smile deliberately forced upon her sight. But again Helen fought a growing dread with contemp

ight. "We're nearly there! Nex

travels at night," sa

replied the ir

here the cattle grazed; their presence, and irrigation ditches and cottonwood-trees told her that the railroad part of the journey was nearly ended. Then, at Bo's little scream, she looked across the car and out of the window to see

ike office for herself, she was ashamed of the tremblin

or nothing else mattered. Next Helen saw a white man, and that was a relief. He stood out in front of the others. Tall and broa