Again her smile was pleading, child-like.  Longstreet assured her that he would respect her wishes.

’You can just say to Mr. Howard that you saw Bates and got everything in shape,’ she suggested.  ‘Good-bye.’

She was gone, racing again, riding toward the milliner’s—­and, when once out of Longstreet’s sight, turning into the road beyond which led to Big Run.

Chapter XVII

Howard Holds the Gulch

‘Look at the mysterious gentleman!’ said Helen, laughing, as her father returned to them upon the hotel porch.  Longstreet observed that she appeared to be in the best of spirits.  ’Look at the light in his eye!  Can’t you just tell that he thinks he has a secret?  Papa,’ and she squeezed his arm, ’won’t you ever learn that with that face of yours you couldn’t hide what you are thinking to save your life?’

For the second time that day Longstreet winked slyly at Howard.  His laughter, as gay as Helen’s, bubbled up straight from his soul.

‘Helen,’ he said as soberly as he might, ’I am afraid that we shall have to leave you to your own devices for an hour or so.  Mr. Howard and I have a little business together.’

‘Oh,’ said Helen.  She studied her father’s face gravely, then turned toward Alan.  She knew all along that her father was planning some sort of birthday surprise for her, and now she could not but wonder what it was that had called the cattleman in to Longstreet’s aid.  For the thought of the two men really having business together struck her as quite absurd.

‘I have been dying to be alone,’ she said quickly.  ’There is an ice-cream shop across the street, and it’s so much more comfortable on a day like this not to have a man along counting the dishes you order.  Good-bye, business men,’ and rather than be the one deserted she left them and ran across the street, vanishing within the inviting door.

‘I have already arranged the matter of filing on my claim,’ said Longstreet, turning triumphantly to Howard.  ’I saw Bates, George Harkness’s assistant, and he has undertaken to do everything immediately.’

’I know Bates.  He’s a good man, better for your work than Harkness even.’  He spoke without a great amount of interest in the subject, and there was something of downright wistfulness in his look which had followed Helen across the street.

They walked a short block in silence.  Longstreet, glancing at his companion and noting his abstraction, was glad that there were no questions to answer.  After all, it was going to be very simple to keep Mrs. Murray’s name out of the whole matter.  When they came to the corner and he asked ‘Which way?’ Howard actually started.

‘Guess I was wool-gathering,’ he grunted sheepishly.  ’We go back this way.’

They retraced their steps half the way, crossed the quiet street and turned in at a hardware store.  Howard led the way to the tiny office at the front, whose open windows looked out on the street.  A ruddy-faced man in shirt sleeves sat with his hands clasped behind his head, his eyes thoughtful.  Seeing his callers, he jumped to his feet.