"But I don't want him to see me here—hurry, please!"
So Edith Blakely was afraid of the Hon. "Hank" Spiser? Nan pondered this wonderingly as she quickly did as she was bid. She noticed that it was not until they were out of the valley of the Esmeraldas and well along on a dim trail which branched from the main road, that the girl ceased to glance fearfully over her shoulder.
"I came as soon as I could," she said, "but dad wasn't home when I got the message from Ben and I had to get these horses off the range myself."
"You can't imagine what a tremendous favor you've done me," said Nan gratefully as they galloped rapidly side by side.
"It's nothing at all—just so long as Spiser doesn't find it out."
Again Nan wondered why she should care, hut did not ask because the girl was adding in a half-apologetic tone:
"You-all won't find much of a place, but ma said she'd have dinner ready, and we can fix you up somehow."
