“I tried to explain, very carefully,” he pointed out, “that, in this instance, there is a peculiar reason why I cannot tell you what you want to know. But there may come a time when I shall feel at liberty to tell you all. Please trust me--and believe me when I say that, if you can look on my proposal in a favourable light, I will tell you everything. Don’t you think me worthy of such trust, Charmian?” There was a pleading note in his tones, though they were none the less manly, that caused her to say impulsively: “Of course I trust you. I know you must have an excellent reason for not talking over your work with me. I’m afraid I’m pretty much of a kid at times, Doctor. And I’ll--I’ll-- Well, I’ll think about what you said. Oh, but what a matter-of-fact way we’re taking to talk about such a subject! I think-- My goodness! Here comes Andy--alone!” CHAPTER XIV THE LONG STRAW ANDY JEROME came swinging down the cañon with the stride of a conquering hero, straight and strong under a burdensome pack. Both Charmian and Shonto regarded him in admiration as he came--he was so handsome, so well fortified with the confidence of youth, so sure that his vigorous young manhood was a match for any obstacle. Charmian shouted and waved her hand. The homecomer waved back and sent the echoes cantering down the gorge after his long-drawn baritone whoop of greeting. “What can have happened to Henry?” the young widow murmured, half to herself. Shonto made no reply, but his face looked worried. “Well, for mercy’s sake!” cried the girl when Andy was close enough to hear her high-pitched words. “Where are you coming from? Where’s the weather bureau?” Andy Jerome came swinging on, slipping on the nigger-heads repeatedly, but always catching himself with the indifference that springy, always-ready muscles bequeath to youth. “Some trip!” he laughed. “I just naturally walked old Marblehead off his feet. Then I left him to die and made the rounds alone.” He reached them, eased his pack to the stones with a great sigh, and held out both hands to them--his right to Charmian. “Golly, I’m tired!” he ejaculated; but he looked as if any weariness that he might feel would forsake him after an hour’s rest. “Where _is_ Henry?” asked Shonto soberly. “And how are you back so soon?--and coming down the gorge?” “Well, last question answered first, I’m hitting her up down the gorge because I discovered an easier route back than the one Henry brought us over. And Henry is on his way home to write a letter to the Weather Bureau for a new rain gauge.” “Andy, you don’t mean it!”--from Charmian Reemy. “Sure do. I couldn’t hold ’im. Thought I’d talked him out of shaking us, but in the night, while I was pounding my ear, he ups and beats it.” “But his money?” said Shonto. “Oh, I paid him in advance,” Charmian confessed with guilty reticence. “The old rascal!” the doctor snorted.