“My poor, unfortunate, erring brother,” said Bonnie Belle sadly. “Yes, it is a sad case, yet you have done far more than your duty to save him.” “I feel that I have sacrificed, I was going to say, my self-respect to do so.” “No, no, not that, for you are true as steel to yourself, even though you are what you are in this wild land. Your brother, with whom I had an interview, pledged his word not to make his relationship to you known, and begged that you would forgive and forget him.” “I will forgive, but I can never forget.” “He bade me also to tell you that you must let me be as a brother to you; that you must go with me to my home in the East, where you will find a sister in my wife, and be loved by her father and my child. “Yes, Ruth, you must go with me, for I am going East to see my family, and then return here to work my mine, which I find is going to pan out rich. I will take you with me by the first stage, and when I return, if you will trust me, I will settle up your affairs in Pocket City as best I can for you, so do not refuse.” “Carrol Dean, I will go with you and give up this wild life,” was the low reply. Two weeks after the east-bound stage carried as passengers Bonnie Belle and Deadshot Dean, the former believing that she was leaving the wild West forever, where her brother’s life was soon to end in shame and suffering. CHAPTER V. LIFE AT PIONEER POST. Pioneer Post was a gem as a frontier post, for it was charmingly located upon a bluff overhanging a river, with sloping hills stretching down from the plateau on the summit to the plains below, and a vast expanse of scenery upon every side. Strongly built, it was well armed and an ideal fort. Many officers had their families there, and Colonel Dunwoody, the bachelor commandant, had a most hospitable staff, while he was ever ready to add to the enjoyment and comfort of those under his command. He was a handsome man, who had been promoted from lieutenant to the rank of colonel for services rendered in action. He was a perfect soldier, a thorough disciplinarian, and though having the means to live in luxury in the fort, he yet was ready to put up with the greatest hardships in the field. There was an officers’ club in the fort, a ladies’ club, and with polo, lawn-tennis, rowing on the river, hunting, riding, and fishing-parties, life passed most pleasantly to all, notwithstanding the fact that danger was constantly near, and the shadow of death often came into their midst. The garrison was a large one, and there were numerous belles and beaux in the military family of the colonel. There was one bachelor captain of cavalry, Dick Caruth, who was a general favorite with all, and considered a fine parti by mothers with daughters in the matrimonial mart, for he was a very handsome, daring fellow, with a fortune and the hope of speedy promotion.