A young chap from the East who was in Clear River County because of his lungs named her Delilah when she was only a little girl--Delilah Gomez. She cooked now for the Double Six Ranch, the buildings of which clustered within a stone's throw of the Ranger post office. And that night as she sat looking from her window she thought, as she did much of the time, about the smiling Julio with his guitar--the handsome fellow who lived with Señor Rhues and did no work, but wore such fine chaps and kerchiefs! She sighed, then started to her feet as she saw him come through the gate and up the path, and hastened to open the door for him. Julio took off his hat. "It is late," he said, flashing his teeth. "I come to ask you to do something for me, Delilah." "What is it--now--so late?" she asked breathlessly. "In the old house across the road"--he pointed--"is a horse. It is the horse of a friend. A friend, also, of Señor Rhues. He is now in the saloon. He is drunk. Will you take the horse away? To the place of Señor Rhues? And put him in the barn? And be sure to fasten the door so he will not get out?" Delilah was puzzled a moment. "But why," she asked, "why so late?" Julio bowed profoundly again. "We go--Señor Rhues, Señor Matson, and I, Julio, to take our friend away from the saloon. We are busy. Senor Rhues offers this." He pressed a dollar into her palm. And for the dollar and a flash of Julio's teeth, Delilah went forth upon her commission. The three men watched her go. "That devil'd tear a man to pieces," Rhues muttered. "Any woman can handle him, though. Git him locked up, an' th' ---- tenderfoot can't make it away! He'll have to stay an' take what's comin'!" The girl led the Captain down the road, past the Double Six Ranch, on to the cramped little barn behind the cabin where lived Rhues and his two companions. It was not an easy task. The Captain did not want to go. He kept stopping and looking back. But the girl talked to him kindly and stroked his nose and--VB himself had taught him to respect women. This woman talked softly and petted him much, for she remembered the great horse she had seen ridden by the tall young fellow. Besides, the dollar was still in her hand. She led him into the cramped little barn, left him standing and came out, closing the doors behind her. Then she set out for home, clasping the dollar and thinking of Julio's smile. The first shot attracted her. The second alarmed, and those that followed terrified the girl. She ran from the road and hovered in the shadow of a huge bowlder, watching fearfully, uttering little moans of fright. She heard everything. Some men ran past her in the direction of Rhues's cabin, and she thought one of them must be Julio. But she was too frightened to stir, to try to determine; too frightened to do anything but make for her own home.