Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/231

 and with the knowledge came a wave of longing to be with the girl. He moved up to Moran and watched him excitedly.

“Go!” said Moran. “Go!” He waved his arm and Flash was off.

Then men watched him turn up a side valley, running at top speed.

“He’s an all around dog,” said Vermont.

Flash raced straight to the cabin, stopping but once, and that time only to assure himself that the horses were all there. He burst into the cabin with a rush and leaped joyously around the girl. Never since finding her had he been away from her for so long a time. Then too, there had been a certain strain attached to suddenly meeting so many men. During his outlawry he had been forced to avoid all men; of late he had avoided all but Betty and Moran. Even Kinney’s presence was distasteful. He could not drop back into old ways so completely in so short a time. He was glad to be away from them all and back home alone with her.

Betty read the note and held out her hand to Flash.

“Oh, I wish he hadn’t decided to go into this thing,” she said. “I’m afraid for him, Flash. I