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〃Go in；〃 she commanded imperiously； quite as if he were a refractory pupil。
〃You're tired out； and hungry。 I'm neither。 Besides； I know where I am now。
I can find my way without any trouble。 Go in； I tell you！〃
But Rowdy stayed where he was； with the gate creaking to and fro between
them。 Dixie circled till his back was to the wind。 〃I hope you don't think
you're going to mill around out here alone；〃 Rowdy said tartly。
〃I can manage very well。 I'm not lost now； I tell you。 Rodway's is only
three miles from here； and I know the direction。〃
Bill Brown waded out to them； wondering what weighty discussion was keeping
them there in the cold。 Vaughan he passed by with the cursory glance of a
disinterested stranger； and went on to where Miss Conroy waited stubbornly
in the lane。
〃Oh； it's you！〃 he said grimly。 〃Well； come in and thaw out； I hope yuh
didn't think yuh wouldn't be welcome yuh knew better。 You got lost； I
reckon。 Come on〃
Miss Conroy struck Badger sharply across the flank and disappeared into the
night。 〃When I ask shelter of you；〃 she flung back； 〃you'll know it。〃
Rowdy started after； and met Bill Brown squarely in the gate。 Bill eyed him
sharply。 〃Say； young fellow； how'd you come by that packhorse？〃 he demanded；
as Chub brushed past him。
〃None of your damn' business；〃 snapped Rowdy； and drove the spurs into
Dixie's ribs。 But Chub was a handicap at any time； now； when he was tired；
there was no getting anything like speed out of him； he clung to his
shuffling trot； which was really no better than a walk。 After five minutes
spent alternately in spurring Dixie and yanking at Chub's lead…rope； Rowdy
grew frightened and took to shouting。 While they were in the lane Miss
Conroy must perforce ride straight ahead； but the lane would not last
always。 As though with malicious intent； the snow swooped down again and the
world became an unreal； nightmare world； wherein was nothing save
shifting； blinding snowfloury and wind and bitter； numbing cold。
Rowdy stood in his stirrups； cupped his chilled fingers around his numbed
lips； and sent a longdrawn 〃Who…ee！〃 shrilling weirdly into the night。
It seemed to him； after long listening； that from the right came faint
reply； and he turned and rode recklessly； swearing at Chub for his slowness。
He called again； and the answer； though faint； was unmistakable。 He settled
heavily into the saddletoo weak； from sheer relief； to call again。 He had
not known till then just how frightened he had been； and he was somewhat
disconcerted at the discovery。 In a minute the reaction passed and he
shouted a loud hello。
〃Hello？〃 came the voice of Miss Conroy； tantalizingly calm； and as superior
as the greeting of Central。 〃Were you looking for me； Mr。 Vaughan？〃
She was close to himso close that she had not needed to raise her voice
perceptibly。 Rowdy rode up alongside； remembering uncomfortably his
prolonged shouting。
〃I sure was；〃 he admitted。 And then： 〃You rode off with my blanket on。〃 He
was very proud of his matter…of…fact tone。
〃Oh！〃 Miss Conroy was almost deceived； and a bit disappointed。 〃I'll give it
to you now； and you can go backif you know the way。〃
〃No hurry；〃 said Rowdy politely。 〃I'll go on and see if you can find a place
that looks good to you。 You seem pretty particular。〃
Miss Conroy may have blushed； in the shelter of the blanket。 〃I suppose it
did look strange to you；〃 she confessed； but defiantly。 〃Bill Brown is an
enemy toHarry。 Hebecause he lost a horse or two out of a field； one
time； hehe actually accused Harry of taking them！ He lied； of course； and
nobody believed him； nobody could believe a thing like that about Harry。 It
was perfectly absurd。 But he did his best to hurt Harry's name； and I would
rather freeze than ask shelter of him。 Wouldn't youin my place； I mean？〃
〃I always stand up for my friends；〃 evaded Rowdy。 〃And if I had a brother〃
〃Of course you'd be loyal；〃 approved Miss Conroy warmly。 〃But I didn't want
you to come on； it isn't your quarrel。 And I know the way now。 You needn't
have come any farther 〃
〃You forgot the blanket；〃 Rowdy reminded wickedly。 〃I think a lot of that
Navajo。〃
〃You insisted upon my taking it；〃 she retorted； and took refuge in silence。
For a long hour they plodded blindly。 Rowdy beat his hands often about his
body to start the blood； and meditated yearnigly upon hot coffee and the
things he liked best to eat。 Also； a good long pull at a flask wouldn't be
had； either； he thought。 And he hoped this little schoolma'am knew where she
was goingtruth to tell； he doubted it。
After a while； it seemed that Miss Conroy doubted it also。 She took to
leaning forward and straining her eyes to see through the gray wall before。
〃There should be a gate here；〃 she said dubiously； at last。
〃It seems to me；〃 Rowdy ventured mildly； 〃if there were a gate； it would
have some kind of a fence hitched to it； wouldn't it？〃
Miss Conroy was in no mood for facetiousness； and refused to answer his
question。 〃I surely can't have made a mistake；〃 she observed uneasily。
〃It would be a wonder if you didn't； such a night as this；〃 he consoled。 〃I
wouldn't bank on traveling straight myself； even if I knew the
countrywhich I don't。 And I've been in more blizzards than I'm years old。〃
〃Rodway's place can't be far away；〃 she said； brightening。 〃It may be
farther to the east； shall we try that wayif you know which is east？〃
〃Sure； we'll try。 It's all we can do。 My packhorse is about all in； from the
way he hangs back； if we don't strike something pretty soon I'll have to
turn him loose。〃
〃Oh； don't do that；〃 she begged。 〃It would be too cruel。 We're sure to reach
Rodway's very soon。〃
More plodding through drifts high and drifts low； more leaning from saddles
to search anxiously for trace of something besides snow and wind and biting
cold。 Then； far to the right； a yellow eye glowed briefly when the storm
paused to take breath。 Miss Conroy gave a glad little cry and turned Badger
sharply。
〃Did you see？ It was the light from a window。 We were going the wrong way。
I'm sure that is Rodway's。〃
Rowdy thanked the Lord and followed her。 They came up against a fence； found
a gate； and passed through。 While they hurried toward it； the light winked
welcome； as they drew near； some one stirred the fire and sent sparks and
rose…hued smoke rushing up into the smother of snow。 Rowdy watched them
wistfully； and wondered if there would be supper； and strong； hot coffee。 He
lifted Miss Conroy out of the saddle； carried her two long strides； and
deposited her upon the door…step； rapped imperatively； and when a voice
replied； lifted the latch and pushed her in before him。
For a minute they stood blinking； just within the door。 The change from
numbing cold and darkness to the light of the overheated room was
stupefying。
Then Miss Conroy went over and held her little； gloved hands to the heat of
the stove； but she did not take the chair which some one pushed toward her。
She stood； the blanket shrouding her face and her slim young figure； and
looked about her curiously。 It was not Rodway's house； after all。 She
thought she knew what place