Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

oming f

the colored porter politely. "We'll be

girl softly, without shifti

aph poles. A faint cloud-like blue line which represented New Mexico's mountains-her m

rn-red hair peeped from beneath her jaunty felt hat. She looked for all the world like a young lady who had just graduated from a stylish Eastern finishing school, wh

nie went quickly down the aisle, waiting in th

she slipped a coin into his hand. "This heah Red

eone will meet me," said Connie with a

e platform. As the train pulled slow

oading freight on a motor truck, but she did not know

," thought Connie. "Perhaps I didn't send

s and carried them into the unswept little station. She walked o

ndy!" sai

nd stared. Then light

nnie Carl! I'm sure g

too, Andy. It seems as if I

how long h

rs-three l

ated you, did

forgotten how to ride a horse. I can hardly wait to g

w outfit in town for a week. Roads have bee

nnie. "Does old Charlie Tr

grin. Then his face became sober. "But

anges?" inquired

vaguely. "Say, I see Charlie across the street

e was entering a cafe. He greeted her with a hearty handshake and

laughed Connie as Charlie loaded h

driver shortly, "but they ain't! You'll find plen

him in surprise. "I thought everything was running well.

his own interests are concerned. You'l

ked Connie in amazement. "And

rth this spring, and some of the other boys hired out to the Drowsy Water outfit. Sho

nnie indignantly. "Why, those boys were my father's most loy

of changes since you

ttend school in the East. I never wished to leave New Mexico because I feel that I belong here

t the girl as he steered the c

so easy to do, Conn

girl asked sharply. "What are you driving at

ty, Connie. You'll get the

anyon, following the bed of a swift-moving stream. On either side rose red rock walls which under the light of the fadin

. She breathed deeply of the fresh, crisp air. It was good t

that she would find many changes at Rainbow Ranch. She wondered if she

nnie leaned forward and glanced down into the valley. She

n gateway. Old Charlie unfastened it and they drove up a long

tall, dark-haired man striding toward her.

ff his sombrero. "Welcome home to Rainbow Ranch. I

ceive my telegra

afternoon, and I couldn't get away as earl

ng me that Shorty

ly. "Here, let me take your bags. You

nie confess

elling very little had been changed. The adobe walls, mellowed by the smoke of the fireplace, were

e in her trips to the ranch took her bags and led h

skirt and blouse. She was tired but she felt too exci

and the barn, and beyond, a lo

r a canter before sup

mount, Silvertail. Connie had raised the big gray from

ard the barn. But she stopped short as she saw a fam

cried a gr

ng his horny hand in her own. "I'm gla

seein' mine much long

mean?" asked

I kin read the signs," replied the cowboy dryly. "But I calcu

can't! Why, I

berly. "I thought a lot of your Dad, and this ranch. But there ain'

y. Now that I'm home, I mean

know jest how bad

been losing money the past year

took over, Connie. Blakeman's handled the ranch

gasped. "Why I thought they

Course you know how the cattle market's been the last few years. An' Blakeman seems

" Connie declared. "If he doesn't wish to hand

t do that

I? Isn't th

I reckon now that the First National Bank has a s

" Connie interrupted, "but I unders

interest out of his own pocket-or so he claims. And you're owin' him more than a year's b

nderstand," m

fellow, Connie. You want to t

e advice, Lefty Forbes m