found it was because you thought I was afraid, I just boiled over. I
had no business to do it, Tom, and I 'm sorry."

The red of Tom's face went a shade deeper, and he fidgeted uneasily.
"No, Emerson, you 're wrong," he protested. "I did n't think you was
afraid. You-all ought to know better than that. But--well--the truth
is, Emerson, I could n't help thinkin' what hard lines it would be for
Mrs. Emerson if anything--should happen to you."

The tears came into Mead's eyes, and he turned away as Tuttle went on:
"I told Nick not to send for you, but the darned kiote went and done it
without me knowing it!"

"No, I didn't," Nick exclaimed. "I just told him we was in a hole and
I was drunk! And, anyway, it's a good thing I did; for now we 've got
the Dyserts, and Emerson did n't get a scratch!"

"Boys," said Mead, and his voice was thick in his throat, "you 're the
best friends any fellow ever had; but you-all don't know what a brick
Marguerite is! She 'd rather die than come between us, I know she
would! She would n't have any more use for me if she thought I 'd kept
a whole skin by going back on you! It's the truth, boys, and don't you
forget it!"




COLONEL KATE'S _PROTÉGÉE_

"Colonel Kate," as both the Select and the Unassorted of Santa Fé society