"Then you may up and grab your trunk for Medicine Hill. Shorty
will drive you tomorrow."

When she returned to her unexpected guest, Helen found him in
conversation with McWilliams. The latter's gun had found again
its holster, but his brown, graceful hand hovered close to its
butt.

"Seems like a long time since the Lazy D has been honored by a
visit from Mr. Bannister," he was saying, with gentle irony.

"That's right. So I have come to make up for lost time," came
Bannister's quiet retort.

Miss Messiter did not know much about Wyoming human nature in the
raw, but she had learned enough to be sure that the soft courtesy
of these two youths covered a stark courage that might leap to
life any moment. Wherefore she interposed.

"We'll be pleased to show you over the place, Mr. Bannister. As
it happens, we are close to the hospital. Shall we begin there?"

Her cool, silken defiance earned a smile from the visitor. "All
your cases doing well, ma'am?"

"It's very kind of you to ask. I suppose you take an interest
because they are YOUR cases, too, in a way of speaking?"

"Mine? Indeed!"