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er out of it resulted in dismal failure； and consequently in a darkening of his own mood。 Hard work relieved him； still； when the day had passed； his unrest returned。 Then he set to deliberate thinking； and there came to him the startling conviction that he must leave Surprise Valley and take Bess with him。 As a rider he had taken many chances； and as an adventurer in Deception Pass he had unhesitatingly risked his life； but now he would run no preventable hazard of Bess's safety and happiness； and he was too keen not to see that hazard。 It gave him a pang to think of leaving the beautiful valley just when he had the means to establish a permanent and delightful home there。 One flashing thought tore in hot temptation through his mindwhy not climb up into the gorge； roll Balancing Rock down the trail； and close forever the outlet to Deception Pass？ 〃That was the beast in meshowing his teeth！〃 muttered Venters； scornfully。 〃I'll just kill him good and quick！ I'll be fair to this girl； if it's the last thing I do on earth！〃
Another day went by； in which he worked less and pondered more and all the time covertly watched Bess。 Her wistfulness had deepened into downright unhappiness； and that made his task to tell her all the harder。 He kept the secret another day； hoping by some chance she might grow less moody； and to his exceeding anxiety she fell into far deeper gloom。 Out of his own secret and the torment of it he divined that she； too； had a secret and the keeping of it was torturing her。 As yet he had no plan thought out in regard to how or when to leave the valley； but he decided to tell her the necessity of it and to persuade her to go。 Furthermore； he hoped his speaking out would induce her to unburden her own mind。
〃Bess； what's wrong with you？〃 he asked。
〃Nothing；〃 she answered； with averted face。
Venters took hold of her gently； though masterfully； forced her to meet his eyes。
〃You can't look at me and lie；〃 he said。 〃Nowwhat's wrong with you？ You're keeping something from me。 Well； I've got a secret； too； and I intend to tell it presently。〃
〃OhI have a secret。 I was crazy to tell you when you came back。 That's why I was so silly about everything。 I kept holding my secret backgloating over it。 But when Lassiter came I got an ideathat changed my mind。 Then I hated to tell you。〃
〃Are you going to now？〃
〃Yesyes。 I was coming to it。 I tried yesterday； but you were so cold。 I was afraid。 I couldn't keep it much longer。〃
〃Very well； most mysterious lady； tell your wonderful secret。〃
〃You needn't laugh；〃 she retorted； with a first glimpse of reviving spirit。 〃I can take the laugh out of you in one second。〃
〃It's a go。〃
She ran through the spruces to the cave； and returned carrying something which was manifestly heavy。 Upon nearer view he saw that whatever she held with such evident importance had been bound up in a black scarf he well remembered。 That alone was sufficient to make him tingle with curiosity。
〃Have you any idea what I did in your absence？〃 she asked。
〃I imagine you lounged about； waiting and watching for me；〃 he replied； smiling。 〃I've my share of conceit； you know。〃
〃You're wrong。 I worked。 Look at my hands。〃 She dropped on her knees close to where he sat； and； carefully depositing the black bundle； she held out her hands。 The palms and inside of her fingers were white； puckered； and worn。
〃Why； Bess； you've been fooling in the water；〃 he said。
〃Fooling？ Look here！〃 With deft fingers she spread open the black scarf； and the bright sun shone upon a dull； glittering heap of gold。
〃Gold！〃 he ejaculated。
〃Yes； gold！ See； pounds of gold！ I found itwashed it out of the streampicked it out grain by grain； nugget by nugget！〃
〃Gold！〃 he cried。
〃Yes。 Nownow laugh at my secret！〃
For a long minute Venters gazed。 Then he stretched forth a hand to feel if the gold was real。
〃Gold！〃 he almost shouted。 〃Bess； there are hundredsthousands of dollars' worth here！〃
He leaned over to her； and put his hand； strong and clenching now； on hers。
〃Is there more where this came from？〃 he whispered。
〃Plenty of it； all the way up the stream to the cliff。 You know I've often washed for gold。 Then I've heard the men talk。 I think there's no great quantity of gold here； but enough forfor a fortune for you。〃
〃Thatwasyoursecret！ 〃
〃Yes。 I hate gold。 For it makes men mad。 I've seen them drunk with joy and dance and fling themselves around。 I've seen them curse and rave。 I've seen them fight like dogs and roll in the dust。 I've seen them kill each other for gold。〃
〃Is that why you hated to tell me？〃
〃Notnot altogether。〃 Bess lowered her head。 〃It was because I knew you'd never stay here long after you found gold。〃
〃You were afraid I'd leave you？〃
〃Yes。
〃Listen！。。。You great； simple child！ Listen。。。You sweet； wonderful； wild； blue…eyed girl！ I was tortured by my secret。 It was that I knew wewe must leave the valley。 We can't stay here much longer。 I couldn't think how we'd get awayout of the countryor how we'd live； if we ever got out。 I'm a beggar。 That's why I kept my secret。 I'm poor。 It takes money to make way beyond Sterling。 We couldn't ride horses or burros or walk forever。 So while I knew we must go； I was distracted over how to go and what to do。 Now！ We've gold！ Once beyond Sterling； well be safe from rustlers。 We've no others to fear。
〃Oh！ Listen！ Bess！〃 Venters now heard his voice ringing high and sweet； and he felt Bess's cold hands in his crushing grasp as she leaned toward him pale； breathless。 〃This is how much I'd leave you！ You made me live again！ I'll take you awayfar away from this wild country。 You'll begin a new life。 You'll be happy。 You shall see cities； ships； people。 You shall have anything your heart craves。 All the shame and sorrow of your life shall be forgottenas if they had never been。 This is how much I'd leave you here aloneyou sad…eyed girl。 I love you！ Didn't you know it？ How could you fail to know it？ I love you！ I'm free！ I'm a man a man you've madeno more a beggar！。。。Kiss me！ This is how much I'd leave you here aloneyou beautiful； strange； unhappy girl。 But I'll make you happy。 Whatwhat do I care foryour past！ I love you！ I'll take you home to Illinoisto my mother。 Then I'll take you to far places。 I'll make up all you've lost。 Oh； I know you love meknew it before you told me。 And it changed my life。 And you'll go with me； not as my companion as you are here； nor my sister； but； Bess； darling！。。。As my wife！〃
CHAPTER XVII。 WRANGLE'S RACE RUN
The plan eventually decided upon by the lovers was for Venters to go to the village； secure a horse and some kind of a disguise for Bess； or at least less striking apparel than her present garb； and to return post…haste to the valley。 Meanwhile； she would add to their store of gold。 Then they would strike the long and perilous trail to ride out of Utah。 In the event of his inability to fetch back a horse for her； they intended to make the giant sorrel carry double。 The gold； a little food； saddle blankets； and Venters's guns were to compose the light outfit with which they would make the start。
〃I love this beautiful place；〃 said Bess。 〃It's hard to think of leaving it。〃
〃Hard！ Well； I should think so；〃 replied Venters。 〃Maybein years〃 But he did not complete in words his thought that might be possible to return after many years of absence and change。
Once again Bess bade Venters farewell under the shadow of Balancing Rock； and this time it was with whispered hope and tenderness and passionate trust。 Long after he had left her； all down through the outlet to the Pass； the clinging clasp of her arms； the sweetness of her lips； and the sense of a new and exquisite birth of character in her remained hauntingly and thrillingly in his mind。 The girl who had sadly called herself nameless and nothing had been marvelously transformed in the moment of his avowal of love。 It was something to think over； something to warm his heart； but for the present it had absolutely to be forgotten so that all his mind could be addressed to the trip so fraught with danger。
He carried only his rifle； revolver； and a small quantity of bread and meat； and thus lightly burdened； he made swift progress down the slope and out into the valley。 Darkness was coming on； and he welcomed it。 Stars were blinking when he reached his old hiding…place in the split of canyon wall； and by their aid he slipped through the dense thickets to the grassy enclosure。 Wrangle stood in the center of it with his head up； and he appeared black and of gigantic proportions in the dim light。 Venters whistled softly； began a slow approach； and then called。 The horse snorted and； plunging away with dull； heavy sound of hoofs； he disappeared in the gloom。 〃Wilder than ever！〃 muttered Venters。 He followed the sorrel into the narrowing split between the walls； and presently had to desist because he could not see a foot in advance。 As he went back toward the open Wrangle jumped out of an ebony shadow of cliff and like a thunderbolt shot huge and black past him down into the starlit glade。 Deciding that all attempts to catch Wrangle at night would be useless； Venters repaired to the shelving rock where he had hidden saddle and b