"I blew out the torch and went over, half mad. As I hooked the door to keep out the sharp wind I thought I heard a sob, and I took the Kid's head in my hands and turned his face to the moonlight. There were big tears in the corner of each tightly closed eye. "'Don't feel bad, Kid,' said I. 'I'm sure there's some reason keeps you at such tricks as this; but tell me all your trouble--it's imaginary, I know.' "There was a tremor in the Kid's voice as he took my hand and said, 'We are friends, Jim; ain't we?' "'Why, of course,' said I. "'I have depended on your friendship and kindness and manhood, Jim. It has never failed me yet, and it won't now, I know. I have a secret, Jim, and it gnaws to be out one day, and hides itself the next. Many and many a time I have been on the point of confessing to you, but something held me back. I was afraid you would not let me stay with you, if you knew--' "'Why, you ain't killed any one, Kid?' I asked, for I thought he was exaggerating his trouble. "'No--yes, I did, too--I killed my sister.' "I recoiled, hurt, shocked. 'You----' "'Yes, Jim, there is no such person to be found as my sister, Georgiana--_for I am she_!' "'You! Why, Kid, you're crazy!' "'No, I'm not. Listen, Jim, and I will explain.' "'My father was always sorry I was not a boy. Taught me boyish tricks, and made me learn drawing. I longed for the life on a locomotive--I loved it, read about it, thought of it, and prayed to be transformed into _something_ that could go out on the road. My heart went out to you early in our acquaintance, and one day the thought to get started as a fireman with you shot into my brain and was acted upon at once. After the first move there was no going back, and I have acted my part well; I have even been a good fireman. I am strong, healthy, and happy when on the road with you. I love the life, hard as it is, and can't think of giving it up, and--and you, Jim.' "And then she broke down, and cried as only a woman can. "I took both her hands in mine and kissed her--think of kissing your fireman on the engine--and told her that we could be happy yet. Then I told her how I had tried to get a letter to the lost sister, and how they never came back, and were never answered--that I loved the sister and loved her. She reminded me that she herself got all the letters I had sent, and was pretty sure of her ground when she threw herself on my protection. [Illustration: "_It was a strange courting ... there on that engine._" (_page 69._)] "It was a strange courting, John, there on that engine at the front, the boundless plains on one side, the mountains on the other, the winds of the desert whirling sand and snow against our little house, and the moon looking coldly down at the spectacle of an engineer making love to his fireman. "That night the Kid slept in the bed in the house, and I stayed on the engine.