CHAPTER VI.
It was nearly noon when Mr.Dawson finished rubbing down his sweating mare in the little stable shed among the wheat.

He had left Rose at the hotel, for they found Mr.Mallory had previously started by a circuitous route for the wheat ranch.

He had resumed not only his working clothes but his working expression.

He was now superintending the unloading of a wain of stores and implements when the light carryall of the Randolphs rolled into the field.

It contained only Mrs.Randolph and the driver.
A slight look of intelligence passed between the latter and the nearest one of Dawson's companions, succeeded, however, by a dull look of stupid vacancy on the faces of all the others, including Dawson.