The Range Boss

nchhouse. Ruth was reading and thinking-thinking most of the time, the book lying open in her lap. Masten was smok

clining easily in a big rocker, well-groomed and immaculate as usual, looking decidedly out of pla

near by, he had outshone the country gallants at the party as he had outshone the cowboys that Ruth had seen since coming to the Flying W. His courtship had been gallant, too; he h

neighbor yet, Ruth?"

r book close and losing her place. "Why, I didn't

eference to the Diamond H r

through a break in the canyon, leading to their ranch on the other side of the river. The man's name is Catherson-Abe Catherson. C

nquired Ruth, her eye

ooted, ragged. She

is she,

. Fifteen, I

them tomorrow,"

-living in that wilderness!" said Aunt Martha, looki

r in his voice. "The people are repulsive, in dress, manner, and

iffed in eloquent preparation for speech, but Aunt

d get that ball of yarn o

y automatically, Ruth interjected a word, speaking

uth, who was facing the Calam

ne is c

leaped to the conclusion that it was he. Her face had flushed. Masten noticed it, for he looked narrowly a

en he came closer, and they watched him with that peculiar concertedness which seizes

mind, for he smiled mechanically as he s

"There's somethin' I'd like to say to you. I

re is nothin

d, "I've got t

ful of smoke. Aunt Martha ceased knitting. Masten alo

decision, Mr. Vickers?" ques

died, but I kept holdin' on because he wanted me to. You see, ma'am, I've got a mother back East. She's been poorly for quite a while now, an' has been wantin' me to come. I've been pu

thized Ruth. "You ought

you somethin' before I go. Me an' your unc

e told me that he li

lyin' W to my niece, Ruth Harkness of Poughkeepsie,' he says. 'I'd like her to stay an' run it-if she likes it here. You'll be gone then, an' who in Sam Hill will be range boss then?' I told him I didn't have no thoughts on the subject, an' he continues: 'Rex Randerson, Vickers-he'll be range boss. Do you understand? If you was to pull your

iver, and besides, he had apologized, and it seemed to her that that should end the incident. Also, she still felt rather resentful toward Masten for his attitude toward Tom Chavis after s

end this man-Rand

he best reputation of a

he eff

nowed him for five years, an' I ain't ever knowed him to do a crooked trick, exceptin'"-and here he scratched his head and grinned reminiscently-"when he gets the devil in him which he d

e boss, Ruth," said Masten. He did not loo

ers evenly, "what do yo

ers, and as quickly looked aw

" he said. "It seems that Ha

or every man to go wron

ice was alm

you tell Ch

is face." Vickers' own face

ess' death," persisted Masten. "

n to do it now," declared Vickers. "It

id Ruth. "However," she added firmly, "he

nitting needles a little faster. Masten's face paled, and the hand that held the cigar quickly clenched, so

Ruth," he said. "I beg your par

and walking toward the bunkhouse, which was deserted, for

on the porch with his war-bag. He said good-bye to Aunt Martha

ond H to tell Randerson about his new job. Don't make no mistake, girl. Rex Randerson is square. An' if an

ss, the new owner