Tell me your trouble now an' I'll tell you where you're wrong." "Jack's a thief--a cattle-thief!" rang Columbine's voice, high and clear.
"Ahuh! Well, go on," said Wade.
"Jack has taken money from rustlers--_for cattle stolen from his father!_" Wade felt the lift of her passion, and he vibrated to it.
"Reckon that's no news to me," he replied.
Then she quivered up to a strong and passionate delivery of the thing that had transformed her.
"I'M GOING TO MARRY JACK BELLLOUNDS!" Wilson Moore leaped toward her with a cry, to be held back by Wade's hand.
"Now, Collie," he soothed, "tell us all about it." Columbine, still upheld by the strength of her spirit, related how she had ridden out the day before, early in the afternoon, in the hope of meeting Wade.

She rode over the sage hills, along the edges of the aspen benches, everywhere that she might expect to meet or see the hunter, but as he did not appear, and as she was greatly desirous of talking with him, she went on up into the woods, following the line of the Buffalo Park trail, though keeping aside from it.

She rode very slowly and cautiously, remembering Wade's instructions.

In this way she ascended the aspen benches, and the spruce-bordered ridges, and then the first rise of the black forest.

Finally she had gone farther than ever before and farther than was wise.
When she was about to turn back she heard the thud of hoofs ahead of her.