“Wal, gurls,” said Bill, looking down upon them, “I was shore powerful glad to meet you-all. An' I'm ashamed of my country--offerin' two sich purty gurls insults an' low-down tricks. But shore you'll go through safe now. You couldn't be in better company fer ridin' or huntin' or marryin' or gittin' religion--” “Shut up, you old grizzly!” broke in Dale, sharply. “Haw! Haw! Good-by, gurls, an' good luck!” ended Bill, as he began to whip the reins. Bo said good-by quite distinctly, but Helen could only murmur hers. The old driver seemed a friend. Then the horses wheeled and stamped, the stage careened and creaked, presently to roll out of sight in the gloom. “You're shiverin',” said Dale, suddenly, looking down upon Helen. She felt his big, hard hand clasp hers. “Cold as ice!” “I am c-cold,” replied Helen. “I guess we're not warmly dressed.” “Nell, we roasted all day, and now we're freezing,” declared Bo. “I didn't know it was winter at night out here.” “Miss, haven't you some warm gloves an' a coat?” asked Roy, anxiously. “It 'ain't begun to get cold yet.” “Nell, we've heavy gloves, riding-suits and boots--all fine and new--in this black bag,” said Bo, enthusiastically kicking a bag at her feet. “Yes, so we have. But a lot of good they'll do us, to-night,” returned Helen. “Miss, you'd do well to change right here,” said Roy, earnestly. “It'll save time in the long run an' a lot of sufferin' before sunup.” Helen stared at the young man, absolutely amazed with his simplicity. She was advised to change her traveling-dress for a riding-suit--out somewhere in a cold, windy desert--in the middle of the night--among strange young men! “Bo, which bag is it?” asked Dale, as if she were his sister. And when she indicated the one, he picked it up. “Come off the road.” Bo followed him, and Helen found herself mechanically at their heels. Dale led them a few paces off the road behind some low bushes. “Hurry an' change here,” he said. “We'll make a pack of your outfit an' leave room for this bag.” Then he stalked away and in a few strides disappeared. Bo sat down to begin unlacing her shoes. Helen could just see her pale, pretty face and big, gleaming eyes by the light of the stars. It struck her then that Bo was going to make eminently more of a success of Western life than she was. “Nell, those fellows are n-nice,” said Bo, reflectively. “Aren't you c-cold? Say, he said hurry!” It was beyond Helen's comprehension how she ever began to disrobe out there in that open, windy desert, but after she had gotten launched on the task she found that it required more fortitude than courage. The cold wind pierced right through her. Almost she could have laughed at the way Bo made things fly. “G-g-g-gee!” chattered Bo. “I n-never w-was so c-c-cold in all my life. Nell Rayner, m-may the g-good Lord forgive y-you!”