"Nell!    I'm  here!    Safe — all  right!    Never  was  so  happy
in  my  life.  .  .  .  Oh-h!  talk  about  your  adventures!     Nell,
you  dear  old  mother  to  me — I've   had   e-enough  for
ever!"
23  345


THE  MAN  OF   THE  FOREST

Bo  was  wild  with  joy,  and  by  turns  she  laughed  and
cried.  But  Helen  could  not  voice  her  feelings.  Her  eyes
were  so  dim  that  she  could  scarcely  see  Dale  when  he
loomed  over  her  as  she  held  Bo.  But  he  found  the  hand
she  put  shakily  out.
"Nell!  .  .  .  Reckon  it's  been  harder — on  you."  His
voice  was  earnest  and  halting.  She  felt  his  searching
gaze  upon  her  face.  "  Mrs.  Cass  said  you  were  here.  An'
I  know  why."

Roy  led  them  all  indoors.
"  Milt,  one  of  the  neighbor  boys  will  take  care  of  thet
hoss,"  he  said,  as  Dale  turned  toward  the  dusty  and
weary  Ranger.  "Where'd  you  leave  the  cougar?"

"I  sent  him  home,"  replied  Dale.
"Laws  now,  Milt,  if  this  ain't  grand!"  cackled  Mrs.
Cass.  "We've  worried  some  here.  An'  Miss  Helen  near
starved  a-hopin'  fer  you."

"  Mother,  I  reckon  the  girl  an'  I  are  nearer  starved  than
anybody  you  know,"  replied  Dale,  with  a  grim  laugh.
"Fer  the  land's  sake!     I'll  be  fixin'  supper  this  minit."

"Nell,  why  are  you  here?"  asked  Bo,  suspiciously.
For  answer  Helen  led  her  sister  into  the  spare  room  and
closed  the  door.  Bo  saw  the  baggage.  Her  expression
changed.  The  old  blaze  leaped  to  the  telltale  eyes.
"He's  done  it!"  she  cried,  hotly.
