The Range Boss

n, accompanied by Aunt Martha and Uncle Jepson,

ired," she told Aunt Martha, "b

dearie," mildly s

t windows of the sitting-room, having already adjusted himself to his new surroundings, and was smoking a short briar pipe

tting the trunks down. Then they went out, and a little later, peering from one of the windows upstairs, Ruth had seen Masten and the other two walking toward the stab

bear a heap of watchin'," he sa

ore Ruth could speak, "you'

niece. "If I'd have been fifty year younger I'd have give that Chavis a durn good thrashi

though, I felt differently. I suppose they were glad to see th

"I cal'late if I wanted to compliment a girl, I wouldn't l

hey don't know any different

different, ain't he? There's a gentleman, Ruth. You didn't see him makin' no ox-eyes.

ifted in resignation. She was as fully aware of Uncle Jepson's dislike of Willard Masten as she

xcept for the little farm back near Poughkeepsie which he had sold at her request to accompany her here, an

Poughkeepsie countryside, she found the spaciousness and newness of this life inviting and satisfying. Here there seemed to be no limit, either to t

er. His acquaintance with Pickett and Chavis seemed destined to develop into friendship. He rode much w

son's prediction, Vickers did not get drunk in town. Through him Ruth learned much about the Flying W. He

her to that effect the year before during his illness, stating that without Vickers' help he would be compelled to sell the ranch. The truth of this statement dawned upon Ruth very soon after her acquaintance with Vickers.

she sought to question him. "It's a pretty wild life," he told her when one day about two weeks after

ickett good m

you they ain't?" he said

eturned. But her

ems like Masten runnin' with them shows that

k seemed to indicate that her own first impression of the two men, and Uncle Jepson's later condemnation of th

many times, on a slant-eyed pony that Vickers had selected for her, and which had been gentled by a young cowpuncher brought in from an

rn to his outfit, saying that Miss Ruth thought she could now ride the pony wi

in seeming irrelevance. But the young puncher sne

. Invariably they were looking for strays. They seemed-some of them-content to look at

chill in the air, and the comfort of a wrap was still felt. But on this morning the sun was showing his power, and a balmy south breeze that entered her window was burdened with the aroma of

ning, with Chavis and Pickett standing

yed, but spoke

Lazette with the boys this morning, and I don't want to disappoint them." Then

e his mind, "I'm only going to the box canyon, down the

n about three, if I can make it. But don't wait longer." He turne

and rode away, and then she turned and observed Uncle Jepson standing near a corner

e had decided that perhaps Masten might keep his appointment in spite of th

ide of it, so that it must have been nearly two o'clock when she dismounted and hitched the po

mpatiently. At three she looked again; and, disappointed, she was about to

concerned. She would make him believe she had not heard him. He did care, after all, enough to part with his companions-for her sake. She had misjudged

under his feet as he approached, and then, feeling that it would

e man she did not fear him now, and after the first shock of surprise she looked at him composedly, for she half suspected

dn't come, I sup

e. You see, he's sort of taken a shine to a biscuit shooter in

er!" she said, u

tress, or somethin'. I ain't admirin' his taste non

nd she trembled as she fought it down. But the sensation passed and, though she felt that

you here to tell me t

as fair for one was fair for another. So I sneaked away from Willard an' come here. I've taken quite a shine to you, ma'am; you've sure got me

heard him curse, and then, in a daze she was running toward her pony. She did n

er room, where she changed her clothes and sat for a long time at

bunkhouse had seen her come in, had followed her in

n't meet her

was determined: that Chavis should leave the ranch, whether he had lied to her or not. She would have instructed Vickers to attend to that, but Vickers had gone again to Red Rock on busi

then she induced Masten to walk with her, under pretext of e

double-dealing between you and me. Tom Chavis told me yesterday

ed darkly, and th

seen her." He seized her by the shoulders and spoke earnestly. "I am interested

nd she blushed and lowered her eyes. She raised them again,

she said firmly. "He insulted me. I want you to discharge him; V

ed her gaze, and a slow red stole into

t the matter rest. But be assured that I shall have a talk with Chavis, and you may believe that he will not repeat the of

est settled over the country, and deep, stirring thoughts came to her on her pillow, she found herself thinking of the rider of the river. He grew very vivid in her thoughts, and she fo