And then she remarked that she must be returning home, and said she would be glad if he would accompany her part way as there was a Mexican's house half way to town where a particularly vicious dog always rushed out. The dog rushed out exactly as she had predicted, barking savagely, so that she slipped her arm into the engineer's and held fast until they were past. "He does that only after dark; I hadn't expected to walk so far and it was still light when I set out," said she. The touch of her fingers on his sleeve, the light swing of her form at his side, the subtle fragrance that emanated from her hair and face, this intimate nearness on the dark road, the heavy scent of flowers in the bordering fields,--all sent the blood thumping from his heart. If he--if he were in Ed Sorenson's place, what love he could pour out! Ed Sorenson, the double-faced wretch who while engaged to her had attempted to entice away for his own vile gratification the simple, trustful girl on Terry Creek, he was to marry this sweet and charming companion. What diabolical tragedies life could mix! "See, the moon is rising," she said. Over the edge of the mesa the yellow globe was bulging, rayless for the moment, round and full. "We're almost at the edge of town, and I'll stop here," he replied. "As I said, I'd not bring down upon your head a single unpleasant word." "My head's not so tender," she responded quickly. "But I think you're right--for the present." A tight little smile followed the words. "We'll see." "That's best." "But I propose to stand by you. I told you that night I couldn't remain indifferent when I saw an innocent man persecuted." "You give me a tremendous amount of happiness." "If I do, I'm glad. I don't believe you ever had much of it. Do you know what is said? That you never smile. But I can swear that isn't true, and I'm beginning to wonder if you really are--Heavens, what was I about to say!" "Go ahead. It's nothing terrible, I wager." "Well, I won't finish that, but I'll ask a question even more impertinent, if I may. Frankly, I'm dying of curiosity to know." Weir turned his head to listen to the approach of a horseman. He could see the man galloping towards them for town, having turned into the road from a lane a short distance off, his horse's hoofs striking an occasional spark from a stone. Then the engineer looked smilingly at Janet Hosmer. "I'll tell you anything--or almost anything." One subject alone was sealed. "It's that name." "Name?" "'Cold Steel.' How did you get it?" "It was just pinned on me a few years ago. I'm not particularly proud of it. I don't even know the rogue who gave me the label. And it means nothing." "Even your enemies are using it,--and I understand what it signifies." She bent her eyes upon him for a time. "That is, what it signifies to your friends." "And to my enemies?"