legs, again assumed the leadership, and fairly forced Rowdy and Pink into
the homeward trail.



CHAPTER 7

Rowdy in a Tough Place.

Rowdy, with nice calculation, met Miss Conroy just as she had left the
school-house, and noted with much satisfaction that she was riding alone.
Miss Conroy, if she had been at all observant, must have seen the light of
some fixed purpose shining in his eyes; for Rowdy was resolved to make her a
partner in his dreams of matters domestic. And, of a truth, his easy
assurance was the thinnest of cloaks to hide his inner agitation.

"The round-up just got in yesterday afternoon," he told her, as he swung
into the trail beside her. "We're going to start out again to-morrow, so
this is about the only chance I'll have to see you for a while."

"I knew the round-up must be in," said Miss Conroy calmly. "I heard that you
were in Camas a night or two ago."

Inwardly, Rowdy dodged. "We camped close to Camas," he conceded guardedly.
"A lot of us fellows rode into town."

"Yes, so Harry told me," she said. "He came over to see me yesterday. He is
going to leave--has already, in fact. He has had a fine position offered him
by the Indian agent at Belknap. The agent used to be a friend of father's."
She looked at Rowdy sidelong, and then went straight at what was in the