“Diane, did Sally show you her engagement ring?” I went on, bound to talk.

Miss Sampson either did not notice my use of her first name or she did not object.  She seemed so friendly, so helplessly wistful.  “Yes.  It’s very pretty.  An antique.  I’ve seen a few of them,” she replied.

“I hope you’ll let Sally marry me soon.”

“Let her?  Sally Langdon?  You haven’t become acquainted with your fiancee.  But when—­”

“Oh, next week, just as soon—­”

“Russ!” cried Sally, blushing furiously.

“What’s the matter?” I queried innocently.

“You’re a little previous.”

“Well, Sally, I don’t presume to split hairs over dates.  But, you see, you’ve become extremely more desirable—­in the light of certain revelations.  Diane, wasn’t Sally the deceitful thing?  An heiress all the time!  And I’m to be a planter and smoke fine cigars and drink mint juleps!  No, there won’t be any juleps.”

“Russ, you’re talking nonsense,” reproved Sally.  “Surely it’s no time to be funny.”

“All right,” I replied with resignation.  It was no task to discard that hollow mask of humor.  A silence ensued, and I waited for it to be broken.

“Is Steele badly hurt?” asked Miss Sampson presently.

“No.  Not what he or I’d call hurt at all.  He’s got a scalp wound, where a bullet bounced off his skull.  It’s only a scratch.  Then he’s got another in the shoulder; but it’s not bad, either.”

“Where is he now?”

“Look across on the other ridge.  See the big white stone?  There, down under the trees, is our camp.  He’s there.”

“When may—­I see him?” There was a catch in her low voice.

“He’s asleep now.  After what happened yesterday he was exhausted, and the pain in his head kept him awake till late.  Let him sleep a while yet.  Then you can see him.”

“Did he know we were coming?”

“He hadn’t the slightest idea.  He’ll be overjoyed to see you.  He can’t help that.  But he’ll about fall upon me with harmful intent.”

“Why?”

“Well, I know he’s afraid to see you.”

“Why?”

“Because it only makes his duty harder.”

“Ah!” she breathed.

It seemed to me that my intelligence confirmed a hope of hers and gave her relief.  I felt something terrible in the balance for Steele.  And I was glad to be able to throw them together.  The catastrophe must fall, and now the sooner it fell the better.  But I experienced a tightening of my lips and a tugging at my heart-strings.

“Sally, what do you and Diane know about the goings-on in town yesterday?” I asked.

“Not much.  George was like an insane man.  I was afraid to go near him.  Uncle wore a sardonic smile.  I heard him curse George—­oh, terribly!  I believe he hates George.  Same as day before yesterday, there were men riding in and out.  But Diane and I heard only a little, and conflicting statements at that.  We knew there was fighting.  Dick and the servants, the cowboys, all brought rumors.  Steele was killed at least ten times and came to life just as many.