doors, the son threw down his baggage and faced his father aggressively.

"Do they all know where I've been?" he asked, bitterly. Broken pride and
shame flamed in his face.

"Nobody knows. The secret's been kept." replied Belllounds.

Amaze and relief transformed the young man. "Aw, now, I'm--glad--" he
exclaimed, and he sat down, half covering his face with shaking hands.

"Jack, we'll start over," said Belllounds, earnestly, and his big eyes
shone with a warm and beautiful light. "Right hyar. We'll never speak of
where you've been these three years. Never again!"

Jack gazed up, then, with all the sullenness and shadow gone.

"Father, you were wrong about--doing me good. It's done me harm. But
now, if nobody knows--why, I'll try to forget it."

"Mebbe I blundered," replied Belllounds, pathetically. "Yet, God knows I
meant well. You sure were--But thet's enough palaver.... You'll go to
work as foreman of White Slides. An' if you make a success of it I'll be
only too glad to have you boss the ranch. I'm gettin' along in years,
son. An' the last year has made me poorer. Hyar's a fine range, but I've
less stock this year than last. There's been some rustlin' of cattle,
an a big loss from wolves an' lions an' poison-weed.... What d'you
say, son?"

"I'll run White Slides," replied Jack, with a wave of his hand. "I
hadn't hoped for such a chance. But it's due me. Who's in the outfit