"
"Hey, there!" called Haines, and he stepped out with Rhinehart before
her horse.
"Oh!" cried Kate, reining up her horse sharply. "Who are you?"
"A beaut!" muttered Rhinehart in devout admiration.
"We're from the Y Circle X outfit," said Haines glibly, "camping over
here for the night. Are you lost, lady?"
"I guess I am. I thought I could get across the willows before the
night fell. I'm trying to find a man who rode in this direction."
"Come on into the camp," said Haines easily. "Maybe some of the boys
can put you on his track. What sort of a looking fellow is he?"
"Rides a black horse and whistles a good deal. His name is Barry. They
call him Whistling Dan."
"By God!" whispered Rhinehart in the ear of Haines.
"Shut up!" answered Haines in the same tone. "Are you afraid of a
girl?"
"I've trailed him south this far," went on Kate, "and a few miles away
from here I lost track of him. I think he may have gone on across the
willows."
"Haven't seen him," said Rhinehart amiably. "But come on to the camp,
lady. Maybe one of the boys has spotted him on the way. What's your
name?"
"Kate Cumberland," she answered.
He removed his hat with a broad grin and reached up a hand to her.
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