“We didn’t think there was a house within miles.” “Maybe there isn’t,” said Alison. “I’ve lost my way. Can you tell me if I am near the road to Denton?” “It’s the road we come over. We passed through Denton this morning,” one of the men told her. “You belong to these parts?” “Yes, and I should know my way better, shouldn’t I? It’s lucky I came upon you all, or I might have traveled around all night. Are you going much further?” “A matter of thirty mile or so.” [Illustration: “THE WOMAN GAVE A STARTLED EXCLAMATION.”] “And glad enough I shall be to get there. It’s weary traveling all this way from the States,” said the woman. “I reckon you find it pretty lonesome down here, don’t you?” “Not so very. I am used to the country and I am with friends. Besides we don’t live very far from Denton, just on the edge of it, you might say, though the store is three miles away. There are two or three ranchos between us and the village but we can see the houses quite plainly and that makes it seem less lonely.” “I wish we were going to be that near somebody,” said the woman. “Oh, it won’t be long before we have neighbors,” said the man, cheerfully. “It’s fillin’ up fast down this way. Fine country, miss.” “Yes, it is so,” said Alison. “Won’t you light and take supper with us?” said the woman. “It don’t seem to me like you ought to go on alone; you’d better get down and stay here with us till morning.” “Oh, thank you,” said Alison, “but I must go on. My sister will be worried to death if I don’t get home.” She bade them farewell and, once on the road, put her little mustang at his best paces. She felt herself lucky to have struck the right way and to have the knowledge that there was a friendly company between her and the stretches of forest beyond the turn. Realizing that he was on the homeward path Chico cantered along bravely, and in a short time the twinkling lights of the first house appeared across the stretch of prairie. At the edge of the woods a horseman came dashing towards the girl. “Hallo!” came the shout. “That you, Alison Ross?” Alison rode forward. “That’s just who it is,” she said. “Is that you, Bud Haley?” “I’m the feller,” he replied, making his way towards her. “You’ve give me a purty scare. What happened to ye?” “I got lost,” replied Alison, with a confused laugh. “At least I heard something behind me and I got scared and didn’t keep the road.” “Humph! I reckon you’ll either stay at home after this or hev a man’s company when you’re goin’ this fur. Miss Christine’ll be scared to death about ye. She’s there alone, ’ceptin’ Pedro and his gal. Ole Sofia got tired of her job and has went home. It ’pears to me like you and Miss Tina better bundle up and come over to our house till your brother gits back. I ain’t easy one minute about ye.” “That’s too bad,” said Alison with compunction. “We have no business keeping you worried about us. I only wish John would come home.”