Presently the men left the house. There was a long, long interval when they sat listening with strained ears for sounds in the darkness. Once there were shots in the distance. At last, as their heads were drooping with fatigue and they yearned to lie down anywhere and sleep, the door opened and Jim Bowles crept cautiously in.
“Minnie will guide you to the Gap,” he said. “I will meet you there, and show you the short cut through the mountains. Good night. And, Miss Campbell, I’ll accept your proposition. I’ve been bad, I suppose, because I thought there wasn’t nobody good, even the people that claimed to be—an’ there wasn’t no use of me bein’, neither. But I was mistaken, by a long shot. You kin have back the money, too. I reckon I’ve got enough on hand to give the boys their share and still make it out. I was savin’ up to buy a ranch in Idyho. But there’s more ways than this of gittin’ on. Minnie, I reckon you’ll be glad. Ain’t you, gal?”
“Glad?” whispered Minnie, moving to his side and resting her cheek against his shoulder.
He kissed her shyly.
“I don’t want to git caught—understand?” he said. “But I’ve done with this old life forever, so help me.”
He raised his hand to heaven in token of his solemn oath.
“We’ll all help you, Jim,” said Daniel Moore.
But Miss Helen Campbell considered Jim and Minnie her private discovery and particular property, and that night, reposing on a steamer rug spread over their bed, she dreamed golden dreams of their future.
CHAPTER XVI.—IN THE ROCKIES.
Billie slept later than her friends next morning. Even their movements about the room as they dressed did not disturb her, and when at last she opened her eyes the sun was pouring his rays through the small window of the cabin and outside was the glory of a mid-summer day; for it was June 21st, and was to be a memorable day in the annals of their trip.