Then, heading homeward, she skirted the trail and kept to the edge of the forest, making a wide detour over the hills, finally reaching the ranch at sunset.

Jack did not appear at the evening meal.

His father had one of his spells of depression and seemed not to have noticed her absence.
She lay awake all night thinking and praying.
Columbine concluded her narrative there, and, panting from her agitation and hurry, she gazed at the bowed figure of Moore, and then at Wade.
"I _had_ to tell you this shameful secret," she began again.

"I'm forced.

If you do not help me, if something is not done, there'll be a horrible--end to all!" "We'll help you, but how ?" asked Moore, raising a white face.
"I don't know yet.