HUNTING FOR GUARD
The ravine was a mile or more in length, and I traversed it rapidly without coming upon any traces of Guard or the wildcat.
Sooner than I had expected, despite my anxiety, the ravine widened, the encroaching walls became lower, the light stronger, and, in a moment more, I came out on a wide, park-like opening, back of Mr. Horton’s house.
I had not met Mrs. Horton since the morning that the wheat crop was destroyed, although I had seen her passing the house frequently on her way to and from the store. It was plain that she avoided us, through no fault or desire of her own, but out of very shame because of the brand on the cattle that had ruined our crops. Casting about in my mind for an excuse for calling on her now, I was impelled to go on, even without an excuse. My conscience told me that I had treated her with less kindness on that occasion than she deserved. Striking into the cattle trail that, bordering the park, led to Horton’s corral, I followed it to the corral gate, and was soon after knocking at Horton’s front door. My knock was answered by Mrs. Horton, who exclaimed in astonishment at sight of me:
“Why, I declare! I thought you’d be gone to town to-day, sure. Has Jessie gone?”
“Oh yes; and Ralph is at Mrs. Wilson’s.”
“Well, well! Come right in! And so you didn’t go. I don’t see how you managed it, hardly.”
“Joe came home in time to drive down, and Mr.—we thought it best not to leave the homestead alone.”
Mrs. Horton nodded her head approvingly.
“That was a good thought; you can’t be too careful. I declare, I wish you had brought Ralph over here—the precious! I’ve been feeling as lonesome as an owl this morning. Generally I don’t mind being left alone, not a bit; I’m used to it; but I was feeling disappointed to-day, and so everything goes against the grain, I s’pose.”