"Two miles," exclaimed the mother aghast.

"Oh, that's nothin'. They ride, of course. But we ain't got much of a
master now. He's rather--you know." Mr. Sleighter significantly tipped
up with his little finger and winked toward Mr. Gwynne.

"But you love that country," she said.

"Yes, I love it and I hated to leave it. But the missis never liked
it. She was city born and bred. She wanted the lights, I guess, and the
shows. I don't blame her, though," he continued rapidly. "It's kind of
lonely for women, you know. They've got to have amusements and things.
But it's God's own country, believe me, and I would go back to-morrow,
if I could."

"You still own your ranch?"

"Yes; can't sell easily. You see there's not much broke on it--only a
hundred acres or so."

"Why, how big is the ranch?"

"Five hundred acres and a wood lot. I did not farm much, though--mostly
cattle and horses. I was away a good deal on the trail."

"The trail?"

"Yes, buying cattle and selling again. That was the worst of it. I am
not much of a farmer, though farming's all right there, and I was away