〃Me　bring　Wangee　girl　to　cache；〃　replied　the　Indian；　pointing　to
  the　wood。　　〃Honest　Injin。〃
  Another　bright　idea　struck　Mr。　Fairley。　　But　it　required　some
  elaboration。　　Hurrying　the　squaw　with　him　through　the　pelting　rain；
  he　reached　the　shelter　of　the　corral。　　Vainly　the　shivering
  aborigine　drew　her　tightly　bandaged　papoose　closer　to　her　square；
  flat　breast；　and　looked　longingly　toward　the　cabin；　the　old　man
  backed　her　against　the　palisade。　　Here　he　cautiously　imparted　his
  dark　intentions　to　employ　her　to　keep　watch　and　ward　over　the
  ranch；　and　especially　over　its　young　mistress〃clear　out　all　the
  tramps　'ceptin'　yourself；　and　I'll　keep　ye　in　grub　and　rum。〃　　Many
  and　deliberate　repetitions　of　this　offer　in　various　forms　at　last
  seemed　to　affect　the　squaw；　she　nodded　violently；　and　echoed　the
  last　word　〃rum。〃　　〃Now；〃　she　added。　　The　old　man　hesitated；　she　was
  in　possession　of　his　secret；　he　groaned；　and；　promising　an
  immediate　installment　of　liquor；　led　her　to　the　cabin。
  The　door　was　so　securely　fastened　against　the　impact　of　the　storm
  that　some　moments　elapsed　before　the　bar　was　drawn；　and　the　old　man
  had　become　impatient　and　profane。　　When　it　was　partly　opened　by
  Flip　he　hastily　slipped　in；　dragging　the　squaw　after　him；　and　cast
  one　single　suspicious　glance　around　the　rude　apartment　which　served
  as　a　sitting…room。　　Flip　had　apparently　been　writing。　　A　small
  inkstand　was　still　on　the　board　table；　but　her　paper　had　evidently
  been　concealed　before　she　allowed　them　to　enter。　　The　squaw
  instantly　squatted　before　the　adobe　hearth；　warmed　her　bundled
  baby；　and　left　the　ceremony　of　introduction　to　her　companion。　　Flip
  regarded　the　two　with　calm　preoccupation　and　indifference。　　The
  only　thing　that　touched　her　interest　was　the　old　squaw's　draggled
  skirt　and　limp　neckerchief。　　They　were　Flip's　own；　long　since
  abandoned　and　cast　off　in　the　Gin　and　Ginger　Woods。　　〃Secrets
  again；〃　whined　Fairley；　still　eying　Flip　furtively。　　〃Secrets
  again；　in　coursein　coursejiss　so。　　Secrets　that　must　be　kep
  from　the　ole　man。　　Dark　doin's　by　one's　own　flesh　and　blood。　　Go
  on！　go　on！　　Don't　mind　me。〃　　Flip　did　not　reply。　　She　had　even　lost
  the　interest　in　her　old　dress。　　Perhaps　it　had　only　touched　some
  note　in　unison　with　her　revery。
  〃Can't　ye　get　the　poor　critter　some　whiskey？〃　he　queried；　fretfully。
  〃Ye　used　to　be　peart　enuff　before。〃　　As　Flip　turned　to　the　corner　to
  lift　the　demijohn；　Fairley　took　occasion　to　kick　the　squaw　with　his
  foot；　and　indicate　by　extravagant　pantomime　that　the　bargain　was　not
  to　be　alluded　to　before　the　girl。　　Flip　poured　out　some　whiskey　in　a
  tin　cup；　and；　approaching　the　squaw；　handed　it　to　her。　　〃It's　like
  ez　not；〃　continued　Fairley　to　his　daughter；　but　looking　at　the
  squaw；　〃that　she'll　be　huntin'　the　woods　off　and　on；　and　kinder
  looking　after　the　last　pit　near　the　Madronos；　ye'll　give　her　grub
  and　licker　ez　she　likes。　　Well；　d'ye　hear；　Flip？　　Are　ye　moonin'
  agin　with　yer　secrets？　　What's　gone　with　ye？〃
  If　the　child　were　dreaming；　it　was　a　delicious　dream。　　Her　magnetic
  eyes　were　suffused　by　a　strange　light；　as　though　the　eye　itself　had
  blushed；　her　full　pulse　showed　itself　more　in　the　rounding　outline
  of　her　cheek　than　in　any　deepening　of　color；　indeed；　if　there　was
  any　heightening　of　tint；　it　was　in　her　freckles；　which　fairly
  glistened　like　tiny　spangles。　　Her　eyes　were　downcast；　her
  shoulders　slightly　bent；　but　her　voice　was　low　and　clear　and
  thoughtful　as　ever。
  〃One　o'　the　big　pines　above　the　Madrono　pit　has　blown　over　into　the
  run；〃　she　said。　　〃It's　choked　up　the　water；　and　it's　risin'　fast。
  Like　ez　not　it's　pourin'　over　into　the　pit　by　this　time。〃
  The　old　man　rose　with　a　fretful　cry。　　〃And　why　in　blames　didn't　you
  say　so　first？〃　he　screamed；　catching　up　his　axe　and　rushing　to　the
  door。
  〃Ye　didn't　give　me　a　chance；〃　said　Flip；　raising　her　eyes　for　the
  first　time。　　With　an　impatient　imprecation；　Fairley　darted　by　her
  and　rushed　into　the　wood。　　In　an　instant　she　had　shut　the　door　and
  bolted　it。　　In　the　same　instant　the　squaw　arose；　dashed　the　long
  hair　not　only　from　her　eyes；　but　from　her　head；　tore　away　her　shawl
  and　blanket；　and　revealed　the　square　shoulders　of　Lance　Harriott！
  Flip　remained　leaning　against　the　door；　but　the　young　man　in　rising
  dropped　the　bandaged　papoose；　which　rolled　from　his　lap　into　the
  fire。　　Flip；　with　a　cry；　sprang　toward　it；　but　Lance　caught　her　by
  the　waist　with　one　arm；　as　with　the　other　he　dragged　the　bundle
  from　the　flames。
  〃Don't　be　alarmed；〃　he　said；　gayly；　〃it's　only〃
  〃What？〃　said　Flip；　trying　to　disengage　herself。
  〃My　coat　and　trousers。〃
  Flip　laughed；　which　encouraged　Lance　to　another　attempt　to　kiss
  her。　　She　evaded　it　by　diving　her　head　into　his　waistcoat；　and
  saying；　〃There's　father。〃
  〃But　he's　gone　to　clear　away　that　tree？〃　suggested　Lance。
  One　of　Flip's　significant　silences　followed。
  〃Oh；　I　see；〃　he　laughed。　　〃That　was　a　plan　to　get　him　away！　　Ah！〃
  She　had　released　herself。
  〃Why　did　you　come　like　that？〃　she　said；　pointing　to　his　wig　and
  blanket。
  〃To　see　if　you'd　know　me；〃　he　responded。
  〃No；〃　said　Flip；　dropping　her　eyes。　　〃It's　to　keep　other　people
  from　knowing　you。　　You're　hidin'　agin。〃
  〃I　am；〃　returned　Lance；　〃but；〃　he　interrupted；　〃it's　only　the　same
  old　thing。〃
  〃But　you　wrote　from　Monterey　that　it　was　all　over；〃　she　persisted。
  〃So　it　would　have　been；〃　he　said　gloomily；　〃but　for　some　dog　down
  here　who　is　hunting　up　an　old　scent。　　I'll　spot　him　yet；　and〃　　He
  stopped　suddenly；　with　such　utter　abstraction　of　hatred　in　his
  fixed　and　glittering　eyes　that　she　almost　feared　him。　　She　laid　her
  hand　quite　unconsciously　on　his　arm。　　He　grasped　it；　his　face
  changed。
  〃I　couldn't　wait　any　longer　to　see　you；　Flip；　so　I　came　here
  anyway；〃　he　went　on。　　〃I　thought　to　hang　round　and　get　a　chance　to
  speak　to　you　first；　when　I　fell　afoul　of　the　old　man。　　He　didn't
  know　me；　and　tumbled　right　in　my　little　game。　　Why；　do　you　believe
  he　wants　to　hire　me　for　my　grub　and　liquor；　to　act　as　a　sort　of
  sentry　over　you　and　the　ranch？〃　　And　here　he　related　with　great
  gusto　the　substance　of　his　interview。　　〃I　reckon　as　he's　that
  suspicious；〃　he　concluded；　〃I'd　better　play　it　out　now　as　I've
  begun；　only　it's　mighty　hard　I　can't　see　you　here　before　the　fire
  in　your　fancy　toggery；　Flip；　but　must　dodge　in　and　out　of　the　wet
  underbrush　in　these　yer　duds　of　yours　that　I　picked　up　in　the　old
  place　in　the　Gin　and　Ginger　Woods。〃
  〃Then　you　came　here　just　to　see　me？〃　asked　Flip。
  〃I　did。〃
  〃For　only　that？〃
  〃Only　that。〃
  Flip　dropped　her　eyes。　　Lance　had　got　his　other　arm　around　her
  waist；　but　her　resisting　little　hand　was　still　potent。
  〃Listen；〃　she　said　at　last　without　looking　up；　but　apparently
  talking　to　the　intruding　arm；　〃when　Dad　comes　I'll　get　him　to　send
  you　to　watch　the　diamond　pit。　　It　isn't　far；　it's　warm；　and〃
  〃What？〃
  〃I'll　come；　after　a　bit；　and　see　you。　　Quit　foolin'　now。　　If　you'd
  only　have　come　here　like　yourselflikelikea　white　man。〃
  〃The　old　man；〃　interrupted　Lance；　〃would　have　just　passed　me　on　to
  the　summit。　　I　couldn't　have　played　the　lost　fisherman　on　him　at
  this　time　of　year。〃
  〃Ye　could　have　been　stopped　at　the　Crossing　by　high　water；　you
  silly；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃It　was。〃　　This　grammatical　obscurity
  referred　to　the　stage　coach。
  〃Yes；　but　I　might　have　been　tracked　to　this　cabin。　　And　look　here；
  Flip；〃　he　said；　suddenly　straightening　himself；　and　lifting　the
  girl's　face　to　a　level　with　his　own；　〃I　don't　want　you　to　lie　any
  more　for　me。　　It　ain't　right。〃
  〃All　right。　　Ye　needn't　go　to　the　pit；　then；　and　I　won't　come。〃
  〃Flip！〃
  〃And　here's　Dad　coming。　　Quick！〃
  Lance　chose　to　put　his　own　interpretation　on　this　last　adjuration。
  The　resisting　little　hand　was　now　lying　quite　limp　on　his　shoulder；
  He　drew　her　brown；　bright　face　near　his　own；　felt　her　spiced　breath
  on　his　lips；　his　cheeks；　his　hot　eyelids；　his　swimming　eyes；　kissed
  her；　hurriedly　replaced　his　wig　and　blanket；　and　dropped　beside　the
  fire　with　the　tremulous　laugh　of　youth　and　innocent　first　passion。
  Flip　had　withdrawn　to　the　window；　and　was　looking　out　upon　the
  rocking　pines。
  〃He　don't　seem　to　be　coming；〃　said　Lance；　with　a　half…shy　laugh。
  〃No；〃　responded　Flip　demurely；　pressing　her　hot　oval　cheek　against
  the　wet　panes；　〃I　reckon　I　was　mistaken。　　You're　sure；〃　she　added；
  looking　resolutely　another　way；　but　still　trembling　like　a　magnetic
  needle　toward　Lance；　as　he　moved　slightly　before　the　fire；　〃you're
  SURE　you'd　like　me　to　come　to　you？〃
  〃Sure；　Flip？〃
  〃Hush！〃　said　Flip；　as　this　reassuring　query　of　reproachful
  astonishment　appeared　about　to　be　emphasized　by　a　forward　amatory
  dash　of　Lance's；　〃hush！　he's　coming　this　time；　sure。〃
  It　was；　indeed；　Fairley；　exceedingly　wet；　exceedingly　bedraggled；
  exceedingly　sponged　out　as　to　color；　and　exceedingly　profane。