When the horror of this thought broke upon him fully, Dan Anderson sprang up, caught his hat, and started fast as he might for the hotel. He crossed the _arroyo_ below the post-office, and so did not know, at the time, of the peril and rescue of Arabella. Nor did he know that all of Heart's Desire was penitent regarding her and her father; nor that both were to remain for yet a little time. Dan Anderson approached the stone hotel in time to watch the stage depart, himself unobserved. Then he stepped farther toward the hotel door. He met the Littlest Girl just emerging from the building, whither she had gone upon the same errand as his own. "She ain't here, Mr. Anderson," explained the Littlest Girl; "her and her pa has just went to the post-office." He looked at her silently. "Oh, I know who you come to see," asserted the Littlest Girl, "and I don't blame you. It's _time_ you did, too." Without a word he turned and walked with her up the street, there to miss Constance by three moments, which, potentially, might have been a life-time. CHAPTER XXI JUSTICE AT HEART'S DESIRE _The Story of a Sheriff and Some Bad Men; showing also a Day's Work, and a Man's Medicine_ "Dad, you've been drinking!" burst out Constance as her father met her at the door of Curly's house. She had heard footsteps, and hastened to meet the visitor. Perhaps it was disappointment, perhaps indignation with herself that she had listened, that she had waited, which caused her to greet her parent with such asperity. "You wrong me, daughter!" protested Mr. Ellsworth, solemnly; "only took one or two little ones, to celebrate the saving of the twin. You've made a great hit with those people over there. They'd all celebrate, if there was anything to drink. I had to stock the Lone Star myself out of my valise. They won't have anything in till Tom Osby comes. "I say," he resumed, taking his daughter's arm with genial gallantry as they stepped out into the sunlight together, "these people are not so bad. They're warming up right along now. If you and I could stay here awhile, we'd get along with 'em all right--better understanding all around." Her face brightened. "Then you don't give up the railroad?" "No; by no means. I never give up a thing I want. Besides, I wouldn't mind coming here to live for a while. The climate's glorious." "You live here? You'd look well in a wide hat and a blue shirt, wouldn't you, dad?"