"I'd 'a' plum forgot there was such a man in this part of the country," said Charley, "if it hadn't 'a' been that sometime before this here murder I carried a young woman--a stepdaughter of his'n--and she asked me the same question. I don't believe you can hire any one to take you out there, but I'll bet I can get you took by the same young feller that took this girl to the ranch. He's the Indian agent, and I seen him in his car when we turned this last corner." Followed by his passenger the driver hurried back to the corner and hailed Walter Lowell, who was just preparing to return to the agency. On having matters explained, Lowell expressed his willingness to carry the lady passenger over to the ranch. Her suitcase was put in the automobile, and soon they were on the outskirts of White Lodge. "I ought to explain," said the agent's passenger, "that my name is Scovill--Miss Sarah Scovill--and Mr. Morgan's stepdaughter has been in my school for years." "I know," said Lowell. "I've heard her talk about your school, and I'm glad you're going out to see her. She needs you." Miss Scovill looked quickly at Lowell. She was one of those women whose beauty is only accentuated by gray hair. Her brow and eyes were serene--those of a dreamer. Her mouth and chin were delicately modeled, but firm. Their firmness explained, perhaps, why she was executive head of a school instead of merely a teacher. Not all her philosophy had been won from books. She had traveled and observed much of life at first hand. That was why she could keep her counsel--why she had kept it during all the talk on the stage, even though that talk had vitally interested her. She showed the effects of her long, hard trip, but would not hear of stopping at the agency for supper. "If you don't mind--if it is not altogether too much trouble to put you to--I must go on," she said. "I assure you it's very important, and it concerns Helen Ervin, and I assume that you are her friend." Lowell hastened his pace. It all meant that it would be long past the supper hour when he returned to the agency, but there was an appeal in Miss Scovill's eyes and voice which was not to be resisted. Anyway, he was not going to offer material resistance to something which was concerned with the well being of Helen Ervin. They sped through the agency, past Talpers's store, and climbed the big hill just as the purples fell into their accustomed places in the hollows of the plain. As they bowled past the scene of the tragedy, Lowell pointed it out, with only a brief word. His passenger gave a little gasp of pain and horror. He thought it was nothing more than might ordinarily be expected under such circumstances, but, on looking at Miss Scovill, he was surprised to see her leaning back against the seat, almost fainting. "By George!" said Lowell contritely, "I shouldn't have mentioned it to you." He slowed down the car, but Miss Scovill sat upright and recovered her mental poise, though with evident effort.