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CHAPTER XV -- THE TEXAN PAYS A VISIT

From that day Fraser had a new nurse. Arlie disappeared, and her

aunt replaced her a few hours later and took charge of the

patient. Steve took her desertion as an irritable convalescent

does, but he did not let his disappointment make him unpleasant

to Miss Ruth Dillon.

"I'm a chump," he told himself, with deep disgust. "Hadn't any

more sense than to go scaring off the little girl by handing out

a line of talk she ain't used to. I reckon now she's done with me

proper."

He continued to improve so rapidly that within the prescribed two

weeks he was on horseback again, though still a little weak and

washed out. His first ride of any length was to the Dillon ranch.

Siegfried accompanied him, and across the Norwegian's saddle lay

a very business-like rifle.

As they were passing the mouth of a canon, the ranger put a

casual question: "This Jack Rabbit Run, Sig?"

"Yah. More men wanted bane lost in that gulch than any place Ay

knows of."