Since her visitor appears to be an honest man, Jess tells him that her father has gone to town—­all the other men being away—­to get ice for her sick sister.  Steve is greatly touched by the sight of the sick child, and he suddenly remembers a cave in the foothills where there is ice buried beneath the rock and gravel.  He gets a spare horse from the stable, and taking a couple of large saddle-bags goes to the cave, procures the ice, and returns to the ranch house.  After Steve has placed ice-caps on Norma’s head, Jess accidentally knocks the medicine bottle to the floor, breaking it and spilling the contents.  Realizing the absolute necessity of having the medicine, Steve determines to ride to the doctor and tell him to take or send some more; but realizing also that he will be arrested the moment he is seen in town, he tells Jess who he is.  She is astounded, but, unable to forget what he has already done for her, she tells him not to go—­she will risk waiting until the return of her father, who can then go.  But Steve declares that he will go, as delay may endanger the child’s life.  Upon his arrival at the doctor’s, he is seized and dragged to the sheriff’s office, but not before he has delivered his message to the physician.  Dr. Turner rides to the ranch with the medicine, and Jess, feeling intuitively that harm will come to the man who has done so much for them, begs the doctor to ride back to protect him from the mob which, the doctor tells her, has more than once threatened to take the law into its own hands if Steve should be captured.  Seeing her distress, both Freeman and the doctor ride to town, and through their efforts the sheriff is persuaded to allow Steve to make his escape from a back door of the office.  He rides back to the ranch, says farewell to Jess, and is given her photograph, on the back of which she writes her name and a few words to the effect that she will be glad to hear how he gets along.  He then rides away.

At the end of a year, Jess receives a letter from Steve, saying that he is staying at Winslow, and that he is now living an honest life, and fills a good position in San Francisco.  He asks her to try to persuade her father to bring her on a visit, so that he may see her again.  When Jess shows her father Steve’s letter, Freeman, knowing that Hammond has at least never been guilty of bloodshed, and believing that the preserver of his little Norma has completely reformed, agrees to take Jess there to see him.  He knows that, great as has been his daughter’s impression upon the former outlaw, his has been no less great and lasting upon her.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

James Freeman An Arizona rancher
Jess His daughter
Norma Her little sister
Steve Hammond, An outlaw, known as “Aravaipa Steve”
Dr. Turner The physician
     The sheriff
     The sheriff’s deputy
     Cowboys, citizens, etc., in 1, 19, 21, and 23.