Garry Knapp blushed and shook his head negatively. “That’s just the old man’s caustic wit,” he said. “I’ll make good all right. I’ve got the land, and now I’ve got the money to develop it——” “Major Dale! Where is Miss Dorothy?” “Gone out for a tramp in the snow. I heard her with the boys,” said the major, smiling. “I—I expect, Garry, you wish to tell her the good news?” “And something else, Major, if you will permit me.” The old gentleman looked at him searchingly. “I am not altogether sure that you deserve to get her, Garry. You are a laggard in love,” he said. “But you have my best wishes.” “You’ll not find me slow that way after _this_!” exclaimed Garry Knapp gaily, as he made for the door. Thus it was that, having traced Dorothy and her brothers from the house, the young Westerner came upon the site of the accident to Roger just as the girl and Joe discovered the disappearance of the smaller boy in the deep drift. “Run for help, Joe!” Dorothy was crying. “Bring somebody! And ropes! No! don’t you dare jump into that drift! Then there will be two of you lost. Oh!” “Hooray!” yelled Joe at that instant. “Here’s Mr. Knapp!” Dorothy could not understand Garry’s appearance; but she had to believe her eyesight. Before the young man, approaching now by great leaps, had reached the spot they had explained the trouble to him. “Don’t be so frightened, Dorothy,” he cried. “The boy won’t smother in that snowdrift. He’s probably so scared that——” Just then a muffled cry came to their ears from below in the drifted gulch. “He isn’t dead then!” declared Joe. “How’re we going to get him out, Mr. Knapp?” “By you and Miss Dorothy standing back out of danger and letting me burrow there,” said Garry. He had already thrown aside his coat. Now he leaped well out from the edge of the gully bank, turning in the air so as to face them as he plunged, feet first, into the drift. It was partially hollowed out underneath—and this fact Garry had surmised. The wind had blown the snow into the gully, but a hovering wreath of the frozen element had tempted Roger upon its surface and then treacherously let him down into the heart of it. Garry plunged through and almost landed upon the frightened boy. He groped for him, picked him up in his arms, and the next minute Roger’s head and shoulders burst through the snow crust and he was tossed by Garry out upon the bank. “Oh, Garry!” gasped Dorothy, trying to help the man up the bank and out of the snow wreath. “What ever should we have done without you?” “I don’t see what you’re going to do without me, anyway,” laughed the young man breathlessly, finally recovering his feet. “Garry!” She looked at him almost in fear, gazing into his flushed face. She saw that something had happened—something that had changed his attitude toward her; but she could not guess what it was.