Imaginative and secretly admiring young reporters had heaped alliterative words together to characterize his daring, his skill as a marksman and horseman, and had also darkly hinted of his part in desperate stage and railway robbery in the Farther West.

To all this--up to the time of his return--Harold had replied, "These chaps must earn a living some way, I reckon." He was said to have shot down six men in his first "scrimmage." "No one presumes to any impertinent inquiries when 'Black Mose' rides into town." Another enterprising newspaper youth had worked out the secret history of "Black Mose": "He began his career of crime early; at sixteen years of age he served in State's prison for knifing a rival back in the States." This report enabled the Rock River Call to identify Harold Excell with "Black Mose," to the pain and humiliation of Pastor Excell.
Harold paid very little heed to all this till his longing to see Mary grew intolerable--even now, waiting for the Sabbath day to dawn, he did not fully realize the black shadow which streamed from his name and his supposititious violences.

He divined enough of it to know that he must remain unknown to others, and he registered as "M.

Harding, Omaha." He was somewhat startled to find himself without appetite, and pushing away his tough steak and fried potatoes, he arose and returned to the street.

The problem before him required delicacy of handling, and he was not one to assume a tactful manner.