"I am glad you are here, Miss Necia. I sometimes was glad the moment I sawyou, and I have been growing gladder ever since, for I neverimagined there would be anybody in this place but men and squaws--men whom hate the law and squaws whom slink about--like that." Henodded in the direction of the Indian woman's disappearance. "Eitherthat, or, at best, a few 'breeds' like these little fellows."

She looked at him quickly.

"Well! What difference would that make?"

"Ugh! Squaws and half-breeds!" His tone conveyed in full his uttercontempt.

The tiny hands of the child and girl slid into her own as she arose. Acuriously startled look lay in her eyes, and an inquiring, plaintivewrinkle came between her brows.

"I don't believe you comprehend," she exclaimed. "Lieutenant Burrell,this is my sister, Molly Gale, and this is my little brother Harold."Both round-eyed elfs made a ducking courtesy and blinked at thesoldier, who gained his feet awkwardly, a flush rising into hischeeks.

From the regions at the rear of the store came the voice of anIndian woman calling:

"Necia! Necia!"

"Coming in a moment!" the girl called back; then, turning to theyoung officer, she added, quietly: "Mother needs me now. Good-bye!"

CHAPTER II