Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

d

to her that the foreman took satisfaction in knowing that she was fighting with

many months in an effort to stave off financial ruin? It was unjust of her to question

in to Red Gulch. She was waiting at the door of the

the way to his private office. Connie thought he glanced at

traight to

to you about our note which

"On the sixteenth, I believe. I

nie admitted. "But with

e banker said quickly. "I should like to do it,

an!" Connie cried. "I'll lose my ranch-everything! I

d tolerantly but

t help. Ranching is no longer the profitab

e time," Connie insisted desperately. "I'd

iled the banker. "I know exactly how you feel

ill. Mr. Haynes' attitude had stunned her. She had n

efore the sixteenth of the month," she told her

Rainbow Ranch. She chatted for a few minutes with the genial owner, Joe Ferris, who had kn

which beset her. Upon reaching the ranch she avoided Blakeman, fe

e sage. The rush of cool air seemed to quiet her nerves. She rode toward the

ying on the ground ahead of her. Instantly she thought that it

dropped on her knees. He was a lean young man, cl

hurt?" sh

opened his eyes a

," he

en. She pressed the container to th

much," sh

r blouse she sopped it in wa

re?" she asked. "Wh

man mumbled. "I wal

der you had a touch of heat. You're a s

job. They told me in Red Gulch I might get one out at Rainb

w," declared Connie. "But as for

wn a horse," the man said qui

meet you," repli

ut ranch work. A cowboy never would have tried to walk the distance from Red Gulch, nor would one

aise himself. "If you're able to ride my horse I can get you t

Barrows insisted. "My h

ving that he really did know how to moun

etting a job at Rainbow R

ed of a few good men. I guess the ranch has been run by a

and avoided looki

man went on. "Fact is, I've n

e as soon as we reach the

so much trouble, Miss. Sa

nswered, laughing. "I neglected to

he girl who ow

es

dn't mean

is true. I trusted too much in the ability of my foreman. About that job, I'll have Blakeman ta

g to work almo

uld be able to come to some

s when the girl led the horse into the cour

elp Mr. Barrows into the house. Tell Mar

replied t

to find the foreman. He was not at the barn or in the leather shop, but when she retu

r?" he demanded. "Wh

eturned Lefty with a shrug. "I

lying on the trail. He's down on his luck and hasn't had a square meal in

the foreman snapped. "Anyway, I do

her never would have turned a man aw

," retorted the foreman. "I can

urned Connie. "What reason would he

an stubbornly. "We ought to cut

difference now. I wish you w

le in that southeast section have been gittin' out

rily at the cowboy and

lled after him. "I'll tell

reman said sullenly. "But

tchen. Jim Barrows had just finished the

he said to Connie. "Thanks for

have you work he

t get into troubl

shook h

t he doesn't seem to realize it. I guess maybe that's beca

told the stranger too much already. He regarded

t work?" he inq

you feel able,"

an declared heartily. "I'll be re

time with Lefty and Alkali. The foreman coldly ignored him, but the other cowboys tried to be frie

bout that fellow," Lefty c

mean?" she a

e," the cowboy said, scratching his shaggy locks. "But I'm dead su