She started up with a little cry, but a jerk of the stage threw her back against the cushions, while the rattle of the wheels over the rough trail drowned her cry so that it did not reach the driver. “That’s all right,” said Benson; “I see you know now who I am!” “Yes, but----” “Just a little trick I have, by which I fool both my friends and my enemies. It’s easy, when one has the gift, and knows how. Just draw up a few facial lines here, and a few others down there, elevate your brows, squint your eyes a little--just a little!--change the appearance of your hair, and the thing is done. Nothing easier.” He ran his fingers through his hair, hiding his face with them for the fraction of a second; then looked at her. The change was so complete that again she would not have recognized him. “Easy enough, when you know how, eh? But it takes a lot of practice. I worked at that for years before I could get it down fine. But you needn’t be startled; and, particularly, I advise you that it would be foolish for you to call out to the driver. It could do you no good; and might cause his sudden demise.” She sat staring at him, fascinated, terrified. “Perhaps you’ll be willing to tell me why you’re leaving Blossom Range now?” he added. Suddenly her eyes blazed. “I thought _you_ were gone!” she gasped. “And that, because of it, your work there was done?” “Yes.” She was silent a moment or so, still staring at him. “Couldn’t we be friends hereafter?” he asked. “No,” she told him, the fire in her eyes increasing. “You know what I have sworn to do?” Her voice trembled. “Hand me over to the hangman, or kill me yourself.” He laughed. “It isn’t a nice resolve for a woman to make.” “If I had known you were going on this stage!” she panted. “Ah! My dear girl, in _that_ you have a lot of company. A great many people would have been glad to know that I was going on this stage.” “They said you had left Blossom Range.” “Of course, I wanted them to think that. I could have stayed longer, but I didn’t care to.” “I know why.” “Perhaps you can guess.” “You knew that Buffalo Bill would get you, sooner or later.” “Well, Cody can make himself very unpleasant, you know. He is out of town this morning; and I was told that he was out along the trail looking for me. He left Wild Bill in the town, though, to keep watch there. I saw Hickok in the street; but I’m sure he didn’t recognize me, any more than you did.” He looked through the little window on that side. “Hello!” he said. “This old hearse has been doing some tall traveling since we hit the trail. Either that, or we have found each other such pleasant company that time has fled faster than either of us was aware. I prefer to think it is the latter.” He looked at her again, as if musing. “I want to say to you that if at any time you are very much tempted to sing out your discovery of who I am to the driver, better not do it.”