Warden's hands were so cold he could not remove the saddle from his horse. A Two Diamond man performed that service for him, and for Singleton. While Warden and Singleton were stamping their feet in an effort to restore circulation, the Two Diamond man called to them from the far end of the stable:
"You run into Miss Della?"
Warden wheeled toward the man. "What do you mean, Lefty? What about Miss Della? Isn't she at the ranchhouse?"
"She rode away about three hours ago—on that big roan of hers. Went to town, most likely. She didn't say. I reckoned that if she had gone to town, you'd have run into her."
Warden ran stiffly to the ranchhouse, where he came upon Aunt Hannah in the kitchen.
"Where's Della?" he demanded, excitedly.
The woman looked at Warden in mild surprise.
"Why, didn't she come with you, Mr. Warden? She told me she intended to." And then her face blanched at the wild excitement Warden betrayed.
"She isn't with you—you didn't meet her? Oh, she'll be frozen to death in this terrible storm!"
"Damn you!" cursed Warden, gripping the woman's arm until she cried out in pain; "didn't I tell you not to let her go alone—anywhere?"