our breakfast, and has held a caucus over you, I'll bring you the
verdict in about an hour. If you don't like that, they's nothing
to do but put out for your ranch."

"I go on duty at seven," replied the young man composedly, "but I
have a friend riding the line that'll stay with it till I come. So
I'll wait for your caucus."

"That friend--one of them devils I shot at the other day?"

Wilfred Compton smiled with sudden sunniness. "Yes."

Somewhere beneath the immense whiskers, an answering smile slipped
like a breeze, stirring the iron-gray hair. "I kinder believe in
you, son! Nobody can't gainsay that you've played the man in this
matter. Now, just one thing more. You must swear here before me,
with Bill Atkins for an unwilling witness, that should we let you
make the acquaintance of our little gal, and should you get to be
friends, you two, that the very fust minute it comes to you that she
ain't no little gal, but is in the way of being food for love--Bill
Atkins, air I making myself plain?"

"You ain't," returned the old man sourly. "You're too complicated
for ordinary use."

"Then YOU tell him what I mean."

The old man glared at Wilfred fiercely. "If we decide to grant your
request, young man, swear on your honor that the second you find
yourself thinking of our little girl as a WOMAN, to be wooed and