You see, ma'am, I come down here to hear a song about Annie Laurie.

I done so.
Ma'am, I heard about a 'face that was the fairest.' Him?
Was he surprised to see you-all this morning?
Was, eh?
Well, he didn't seem so almighty surprised, to my way of thinkin', last night when I told him you was comin' up here from El Paso.

I don't know how he knowed it, and I ain't sayin' a word." A strange lightening came to Constance Ellsworth's heart.

The droop at the corners of her mouth faded away.

She slid down off the blanket roll and edged along across the ground until she sat at his side.