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er weakening courage permitted her to dare absolute loneliness and helplessness； but she realized now that if she were left alone her life would become one long； hideous nightmare。
When his soft steps clinked into the hall； in answer to her greeting； and his tall； black…garbed form filled the door； she felt an inexpressible sense of immediate safety。 In his presence she lost her fear of the dim passageways of Withersteen House and of every sound。 Always it had been that； when he entered the court or the hall； she had experienced a distinctly sickening but gradually lessening shock at sight of the huge black guns swinging at his sides。 This time the sickening shock again visited her； it was； however； because a revealing flash of thought told her that it was not alone Lassiter who was thrillingly welcome； but also his fatal weapons。 They meant so much。 How she had fallenhow broken and spiritless must she beto have still the same old horror of Lassiter's guns and his name； yet feel somehow a cold； shrinking protection in their law and might and use。
〃Did you trail Ventersfind his wonderful valley？〃 she asked； eagerly。
〃Yes； an' I reckon it's sure a wonderful place。〃
〃Is he safe there？〃
〃That's been botherin' me some。 I tracked him an' part of the trail was the hardest I ever tackled。 Mebbe there's a rustler or somebody in this country who's as good at trackin' as I am。 If that's so Venters ain't safe。〃
〃Welltell me all about Bern and his valley。〃
To Jane's surprise Lassiter showed disinclination for further talk about his trip。 He appeared to be extremely fatigued。 Jane reflected that one hundred and twenty miles； with probably a great deal of climbing on foot； all in three days； was enough to tire any rider。 Moreover； it presently developed that Lassiter had returned in a mood of singular sadness and preoccupation。 She put it down to a moodiness over the loss of her white herd and the now precarious condition of her fortune。
Several days passed； and as nothing happened； Jane's spirits began to brighten。 Once in her musings she thought that this tendency of hers to rebound was as sad as it was futile。 Meanwhile； she had resumed her walks through the grove with little Fay。
One morning she went as far as the sage。 She had not seen the slope since the beginning of the rains； and now it bloomed a rich deep purple。 There was a high wind blowing； and the sage tossed and waved and colored beautifully from light to dark。 Clouds scudded across the sky and their shadows sailed darkly down the sunny slope。
Upon her return toward the house she went by the lane to the stables； and she had scarcely entered the great open space with its corrals and sheds when she saw Lassiter hurriedly approaching。 Fay broke from her and； running to a corral fence； began to pat and pull the long； hanging ears of a drowsy burro。
One look at Lassiter armed her for a blow。
Without a word he led her across the wide yard to the rise of the ground upon which the stable stood。
〃Janelook！〃 he said； and pointed to the ground。
Jane glanced down； and again； and upon steadier vision made out splotches of blood on the stones； and broad； smooth marks in the dust； leading out toward the sage。
〃What made these？〃 she asked。
〃I reckon somebody has dragged dead or wounded men out to where there was hosses in the sage。〃
〃Deadorwoundedmen！〃
〃I reckonJane； are you strong？ Can you bear up？〃
His hands were gently holding hers； and his eyessuddenly 'she could no longer look into them。 〃Strong？〃 she echoed； trembling。 〃II will be。〃
Up on the stone…flag drive； nicked with the marks made by the iron…shod hoofs of her racers； Lassiter led her； his grasp ever growing firmer。
〃Where's Blakeandand Jerb？〃 she asked； haltingly。
〃I don't know where Jerb is。 Bolted； most likely；〃 replied Lassiter； as he took her through the stone door。 〃But Blakepoor Blake！ He's gone forever！。。。Be prepared； Jane。〃
With a cold prickling of her skin； with a queer thrumming in her ears； with fixed and staring eyes； Jane saw a gun lying at her feet with chamber swung and empty； and discharged shells scattered near。
Outstretched upon the stable floor lay Blake； ghastly whitedeadone hand clutching a gun and the other twisted in his bloody blouse。
〃Whoever the thieves were； whether your people or rustlersBlake killed some of them！〃 said Lassiter。
〃Thieves？〃 whispered Jane。
〃I reckon。 Hoss…thieves！。。。Look！〃 Lassiter waved his hand toward the stalls。
The first stallBells's stallwas empty。 All the stalls were empty。 No racer whinnied and stamped greeting to her。 Night was gone！ Black Star was gone！
CHAPTER XVI。 GOLD
As Lassiter had reported to Jane； Venters 〃went through〃 safely； and after a toilsome journey reached the peaceful shelter of Surprise Valley。 When finally he lay wearily down under the silver spruces； resting from the strain of dragging packs and burros up the slope and through the entrance to Surprise Valley； he had leisure to think； and a great deal of the time went in regretting that he had not been frank with his loyal friend； Jane Withersteen。
But； he kept continually recalling； when he had stood once more face to face with her and had been shocked at the change in her and had heard the details of her adversity； he had not had the heart to tell her of the closer interest which had entered his life。 He had not lied； yet he had kept silence。
Bess was in transports over the stores of supplies and the outfit he had packed from Cottonwoods。 He had certainly brought a hundred times more than he had gone for； enough； surely； for years； perhaps to make permanent home in the valley。 He saw no reason why he need ever leave there again。
After a day of rest he recovered his strength and shared Bess's pleasure in rummaging over the endless packs； and began to plan for the future。 And in this planning； his trip to Cottonwoods； with its revived hate of Tull and consequent unleashing of fierce passions； soon faded out of mind。 By slower degrees his friendship for Jane Withersteen and his contrition drifted from the active preoccupation of his present thought to a place in memory； with more and more infrequent recalls。
And as far as the state of his mind was concerned； upon the second day after his return； the valley； with its golden hues and purple shades； the speaking west wind and the cool； silent night； and Bess's watching eyes with their wonderful light； so wrought upon Venters that he might never have left them at all。
That very afternoon he set to work。 Only one thing hindered him upon beginning； though it in no wise checked his delight； and that in the multiplicity of tasks planned to make a paradise out of the valley he could not choose the one with which to begin。 He had to grow into the habit of passing from one dreamy pleasure to another； like a bee going from flower to flower in the valley； and he found this wandering habit likely to extend to his labors。 Nevertheless； he made a start。
At the outset he discovered Bess to be both a considerable help in some ways and a very great hindrance in others。 Her excitement and joy were spurs； inspirations； but she was utterly impracticable in her ideas； and she flitted from one plan to another with bewildering vacillation。 Moreover； he fancied that she grew more eager； youthful； and sweet； and he marked that it was far easier to watch her and listen to her than it was to work。 Therefore he gave her tasks that necessitated her going often to the cave where he had stored his packs。
Upon the last of these trips； when he was some distance down the terrace and out of sight of camp； he heard a scream； and then the sharp barking of the dogs。
For an instant he straightened up； amazed。 Danger for her had been absolutely out of his mind。 She had seen a rattlesnakeor a wildcat。 Still she would not have been likely to scream at sight of either； and the barking of the dogs was ominous。 Dropping his work； he dashed back along the terrace。 Upon breaking through a clump of aspens he saw the dark form of a man in the camp。 Cold； then hot； Venters burst into frenzied speed to reach his guns。 He was cursing himself for a thoughtless fool when the man's tall form became familiar and he recognized Lassiter。 Then the reversal of emotions changed his run to a walk； he tried to call out； but his voice refused to carry； when he reached camp there was Lassiter staring at the white…faced girl。 By that time Ring and Whitie had recognized him。
〃Hello； Venters！ I'm makin' you a visit；〃 said Lassiter； slowly。 〃An' I'm some surprised to see you've aa young feller for company。〃
One glance had sufficed for the keen rider to read Bess's real sex； and for once his cool calm had deserted him。 He stared till the white of Bess's cheeks flared into crimson。 That； if it were needed； was the concluding evidence of her femininity； for it went fittingly with her sun…tinted hair and darkened； dilated eyes； the sweetness of her mouth； and the striking symmetry of her slender shape。
〃Heavens！ Lassiter！〃 panted Venters； when he caught his breath。 〃What reliefit's only you！ Howin the name of all that's wonderfuldid you ever get here？〃
〃I trailed you。 WeI wanted to know where you was； if you had a safe