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〃Oh no！ My women neighbors are kind。 They take turns coming in。〃
〃Did you send for me？〃
〃Yes； several times。〃
〃But I had no wordno messages ever got to me。〃
〃I sent the boys； and they left word with your women that I was ill and would you please come。〃
A sudden deadly sickness seized Jane。 She fought the weakness； as she fought to be above suspicious thoughts； and it passed； leaving her conscious of her utter impotence。 That； too； passed as her spirit rebounded。 But she had again caught a glimpse of dark underhand domination； running its secret lines this time into her own household。 Like a spider in the blackness of night an unseen hand had begun to run these dark lines； to turn and twist them about her life； to plait and weave a web。 Jane Withersteen knew it now； and in the realization further coolness and sureness came to her； and the fighting courage of her ancestors。
〃Mrs。 Larkin； you're better； and I'm so glad；〃 said Jane。 〃But may I not do something for youa turn at nursing； or send you things； or take care of Fay？〃
〃You're so good。 Since my husband's been gone what would have become of Fay and me but for you？ It was about Fay that I wanted to speak to you。 This time I thought surely I'd die； and I was worried about Fay。 Well； I'll be around all right shortly； but my strength's gone and I won't live long。 So I may as well speak now。 You remember you've been asking me to let you take Fay and bring her up as your daughter？〃
〃Indeed yes； I remember。 I'll be happy to have her。 But I hope the day… …〃
〃Never mind that。 The day'll comesooner or later。 I refused your offer； and now I'll tell you why。〃
〃I know why；〃 interposed Jane。 〃It's because you don't want her brought up as a Mormon。〃
〃No； it wasn't altogether that。〃 Mrs。 Larkin raised her thin hand and laid it appealingly on Jane's。 〃I don't like to tell you。 Butit's this： I told all my friends what you wanted。 They know you； care for you； and they said for me to trust Fay to you。 Women will talk； you know。 It got to the ears of Mormonsgossip of your love for Fay and your wanting her。 And it came straight back to me； in jealousy； perhaps； that you wouldn't take Fay as much for love of her as because of your religious duty to bring up another girl for some Mormon to marry。〃
〃That's a damnable lie！〃 cried Jane Withersteen。
〃It was what made me hesitate；〃 went on Mrs。 Larkin； 〃but I never believed it at heart。 And now I guess I'll let you〃
〃Wait！ Mrs。 Larkin； I may have told little white lies in my life； but never a lie that mattered； that hurt any one。 Now believe me。 I love little Fay。 If I had her near me I'd grow to worship her。 When I asked for her I thought only of that love。。。。Let me prove this。 You and Fay come to live with me。 I've such a big house； and I'm so lonely。 I'll help nurse you； take care of you。 When you're better you can work for me。 I'll keep little Fay and bring her upwithout Mormon teaching。 When she's grown； if she should want to leave me； I'll send her； and not empty…handed； back to Illinois where you came from。 I promise you。〃
〃I knew it was a lie；〃 replied the mother； and she sank back upon her pillow with something of peace in her white； worn face。 〃Jane Withersteen； may Heaven bless you！ I've been deeply grateful to you。 But because you're a Mormon I never felt close to you till now。 I don't know much about religion as religion； but your God and my God are the same。〃
CHAPTER VIII。 SURPRISE VALLEY
Back in that strange canyon； which Venters had found indeed a valley of surprises； the wounded girl's whispered appeal； almost a prayer； not to take her back to the rustlers crowned the events of the last few days with a confounding climax。 That she should not want to return to them staggered Venters。 Presently； as logical thought returned； her appeal confirmed his first impressionthat she was more unfortunate than bad and he experienced a sensation of gladness。 If he had known before that Oldring's Masked Rider was a woman his opinion would have been formed and he would have considered her abandoned。 But his first knowledge had come when he lifted a white face quivering in a convulsion of agony； he had heard God's name whispered by blood…stained lips； through her solemn and awful eyes he had caught a glimpse of her soul。 And just now had come the entreaty to him； 〃Don'ttakemebackthere！〃
Once for all Venters's quick mind formed a permanent conception of this poor girl。 He based it； not upon what the chances of life had made her； but upon the revelation of dark eyes that pierced the infinite； upon a few pitiful； halting words that betrayed failure and wrong and misery； yet breathed the truth of a tragic fate rather than a natural leaning to evil。
〃What's your name？〃 he inquired。
〃Bess；〃 she answered。
〃Bess what？〃
〃That's enoughjust Bess。〃
The red that deepened in her cheeks was not all the flush of fever。 Venters marveled anew； and this time at the tint of shame in her face； at the momentary drooping of long lashes。 She might be a rustler's girl； but she was still capable of shame； she might be dying； but she still clung to some little remnant of honor。
〃Very well； Bess。 It doesn't matter；〃 he said。 〃But this matterswhat shall I do with you？〃
〃Areyoua rider？〃 she whispered。
〃Not now。 I was once。 I drove the Withersteen herds。 But T lost my placelost all I ownedand now I'mI'm a sort of outcast。 My name's Bern Venters。〃
〃You won'ttake meto Cottonwoodsor Glaze？ I'd behanged。〃
〃No； indeed。 But I must do something with you。 For it's not safe for me here。 I shot that rustler who was with you。 Sooner or later he'll be found； and then my tracks。 I must find a safer hiding…place where I can't be trailed。〃
〃Leave mehere。〃
〃Aloneto die！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I will not。〃 Venters spoke shortly with a kind of ring in his voice。
〃Whatdo you wantto dowith me？〃 Her whispering grew difficult； so low and faint that Venters had to stoop to hear her。
〃Why； let's see；〃 he replied； slowly。 〃I'd like to take you some place where I could watch by you； nurse you； till you're all right。〃
〃Andthen？〃
〃Well； it'll be time to think of that when you're cured of your wound。 It's a bad one。 AndBess； if you don't want to liveif you don't fight for lifeyou'll never〃
〃Oh！ I wantto live！ I'm afraidto die。 But I'd ratherdiethan go backtoto〃
〃To Oldring？〃 asked Venters； interrupting her in turn。
Her lips moved in an affirmative。
〃I promise not to take you back to him or to Cottonwoods or to Glaze。〃
The mournful earnestness of her gaze suddenly shone with unutterable gratitude and wonder。 And as suddenly Venters found her eyes beautiful as he had never seen or felt beauty。 They were as dark blue as the sky at night。 Then the flashing changed to a long； thoughtful look； in which there was a wistful； unconscious searching of his face； a look that trembled on the verge of hope and trust。
〃I'll tryto live；〃 she said。 The broken whisper just reached his ears。 〃Do whatyou wantwith me。〃
〃Rest thendon't worrysleep；〃 he replied。
Abruptly he arose； as if words had been decision for him； and with a sharp command to the dogs he strode from the camp。 Venters was conscious of an indefinite conflict of change within him。 It seemed to be a vague passing of old moods； a dim coalescing of new forces； a moment of inexplicable transition。 He was both cast down and uplifted。 He wanted to think and think of the meaning； but he resolutely dispelled emotion。 His imperative need at present was to find a safe retreat； and this called for action。
So he set out。 It still wanted several hours before dark。 This trip he turned to the left and wended his skulking way southward a mile or more to the opening of the valley； where lay the strange scrawled rocks。 He did not； however； venture boldly out into the open sage； but clung to the right…hand wall and went along that till its perpendicular line broke into the long incline of bare stone。
Before proceeding farther he halted； studying the strange character of this slope and realizing that a moving black object could be seen far against such background。 Before him ascended a gradual swell of smooth stone。 It was hard； polished； and full of pockets worn by centuries of eddying rain…water。 A hundred yards up began a line of grotesque cedar…trees； and they extended along the slope clear to its most southerly end。 Beyond that end Venters wanted to get； and he concluded the cedars； few as they were； would afford some cover。
Therefore he climbed swiftly。 The trees were farther up than he had estimated； though he had from long habit made allowance for the deceiving nature of distances in that country。 When he gained the cover of cedars he paused to rest and look； and it was then he saw how the trees sprang from holes in the bare rock。 Ages of rain had run down the slope； circling； eddying in depressions； wearing deep round holes。 There had been dry seasons； accumulations of dust； wind…blown seeds； and cedars rose wonderfully out of solid rock。 But these were not beautiful cedars。 They were gnarled； twisted into weird contortions； as if growth were torture； dead at the tops； shrunken； gray； and old。 Theirs had been a bitter fight； and Venters felt a strange sympathy