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all right； he was glad she belonged close around the Cross L。 He also wished
he knew her nameand so he set about finding it out； with much guile。
〃How's that？〃 he wanted to know； when he had made sure that her feetsuch
tiny feetwere well covered。 He thought it lucky that she did not ride
astride； after the manner of the latter…day young woman； because then he
could not have covered her so completely。 〃Hold on！ That windy side's going
to make trouble。〃 He unbuckled the strap he wore to hold his own coat snug
about him； and put it around the girl's slim waist； feeling idiotically
happy and guilty the while。 〃It don't come within a mile of you；〃 he
complained； 〃but it'll help some。〃
Sheltered in the thick folds of the Navajo； she laughed； and the sound of it
sent the blood galloping through Rowdy Vaughan's body so that he was almost
warm。 He went and scraped the snow out of his saddle； and swung up； feeling
that； after all； there are worse things in the world than being lost and
hungry in a blizzard； with a sweet…voiced； bright…eyed little schoolma'am
who can laugh like that。
〃I don't want to have you think I may be a bold； bad robber…man；〃 he said；
when they got going again。 〃My name's Rowdy Vaughanfor which I beg your
pardon。 Mother named me Rowland； never knowing I'd get out here and have her
nice； pretty name mutilated that way。 I won't say that my behavior never
suggested the change； though。 I'm from the Horseshoe Bar； over the line； and
if I have my way； I'll be a Cross L man before another day。〃 Then he waited
expectantly。
〃For fear you may think I'm aa robber…woman；〃 she answered him
solemnlyhe felt sure her eyes twinkled； if only he could have seen them
〃I'm Jessie Conroy。 And if you're from over the line； maybe you know my
brother Harry。 He was over there a year or two。〃
Rowdy hunched his shoulderspresumably at the wind。 Harry Conroy's sister；
was she？ And he swore。 〃I may have met him；〃 he parried； in a tone you'd
never notice as being painstakingly careless。 〃I think I did； come to think
of it。〃
Miss Conroy seemed displeased； and presently the cause was forthcoming。 〃If
you'd ever met him；〃 she said； 〃you'd hardly forget him。〃 （Rowdy mentally
agreed profanely。） 〃He's the best rider in the whole countryand the
handsomest。 Hehe's splendid！ And he's the only brother I've got。 It's a
pity you never got acquainted with him。〃
〃Yes；〃 lied Rowdy； and thought a good deal in a very short time。 Harry
Conroy's sister！ Well； she wasn't to blame for that； of course； nor for
thinking her brother a white man。 〃I remember I did see him ride once；〃 he
observed。 〃He was a whirlwind； all rightand he sure was handsome； too。〃
Miss Conroy turned her face toward him and smiled her pleasure； and Rowdy
hovered between heaven andanother place。 He was glad she smiled； and he
was afraid of what that subject might discover for his straightforward
tongue in the way of pitfalls。 It would not be nice to let her know what he
really thought of her brother。
〃This looks to me like a lane；〃 he said diplomatically。 〃We must be getting
somewhere； don't you recognize any landmarks？〃
Miss Conroy leaned forward and peered through the clouds of snow dust。
Already the night was creeping down upon the land； stealthily turning the
blank white of the blizzard into as blank a graywhich was as near darkness
as it could get； because of the snow which fell and fell； and yet seemed
never to find an abiding…place； but danced and swirled giddily in the wind
as the cold froze it dry。 There would be no more damp； clinging masses that
night； it was sifting down like flour from a giant sieve； and
of the supply there seemed no end。
〃I don't know of any lanes around here；〃 she began dubiously； 〃unless
it's〃
Vaughan looked sharply at her muffled figure and wondered why she broke off
so suddenly。 She was staring hard at the few； faint traces of landmarks；
and； bundled in the red…and…yellow Navajo blanket； with her bright； dark
eyes； she might easily have passed for a slim young squaw。
Out ahead； a dog began barking vaguely； and Rowdy turned eagerly to the
sound。 Dixie； scenting human habitation； stepped out more briskly through
the snow； and even Chub lifted an ear briefly to show he heard。
〃It may not be any one you know；〃 Vaughan remarked； and his voice showed his
longing； 〃but it'll be shelter and a warm fireand supper。 Can you
appreciate such blessings； Miss Conroy？ I can。 I've been in the saddle since
sunrise； and I was so sure I'd strike the Cross L by dinner…time that I
didn't bring a bite to eat。 It was a sheep…camp where I stopped； and the
grub didn't look good to me； anywayI've called myself bad names all the
afternoon for being more dainty than sensible。 But it's all right now； I
guess。〃
CHAPTER 2
Miss Conroy Refuses Shelter。
The storm lifted suddenly； as storms have a way of doing； and a low； squat
ranch…house stood dimly revealed against the bleak expanse of wind…tortured
prairie。 Rowdy gave an exultant little whoop and made for the gate； leaned
and swung it open and rode through； dragging Chub after him by main
strength； as usual。 When he turned to close the gate after Miss Conroy he
found her standing still in the lane。
〃Come on in；〃 he called； with a trace of impatience born of his weariness
and hunger。
〃Thank you； no。〃 Miss Conroy's voice was as crisply cold as the wind which
fluttered the Navajo blanket around her face。 〃I much prefer the blizzard。〃
For a moment Rowdy found nothing to say； he just stared。 Miss Conroy shifted
uneasily in the saddle。
〃This is old Bill Brown's place；〃 she explained reluctantly。 〃HeI'd rather
freeze than go in！〃
〃Well； I guess that won't be hard to do；〃 he retorted curtly； 〃if you stay
out much longer。〃
The dog was growing hysterical over their presence； and Bill Brown himself
came out to see what it was all about。 He could see two dim figures at the
gate。
〃Hello！〃 he shouted。 〃Why don't yuh come on in？ What yuh standing there
chewing the rag for？〃
Vaughan hesitated； his eyes upon Miss Conroy。
〃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！〃 sh