Doug Spencer, Inez Rodman's given me more sensible warnings about men
than my mother ever did."

Douglas wore a worried expression. "Seems like there's something wrong
about that. Mother knows all about those things." He cleared his throat.

The half angry look on Judith's face gave way to a smile.

"O Doug! Doug! You old owl! What's the matter with you? After all, it's
good to be alive! I wish I had a horse as good as Buster and I wouldn't
ask for much more in life."

"I'll give you Buster," said Douglas suddenly.

Judith's jaw dropped. "Give me Buster!"

"I mean it."

"But--but--why, Douglas, what's happened to you?"

"Judith!" Douglas tossed back his yellow; hair and put a brown hand over
Judith's. "Judith! I love you. Won't you be engaged to me?"

"Love _me_?" Judith's beautiful gray eyes opened their widest. "Why, it
doesn't seem more than yesterday that you were calling me a pug-nosed
maverick. And besides, I'm only fifteen and you're only seventeen."

"Is it Scott?" asked Douglas.

"It isn't anybody! Why, Douglas, you must be crazy!"