"Want us all, do you? Young and old alike. Well, count me out."

He broke away, and went into the house. But there was an unconquerably
youthful smile dancing in his eyes. This young lady and he had made
love to each other in some such fashion ever since she had been a year
old. He was a mellow and confirmed old bachelor, but he proposed to
continue their innocent coquetry until he was laid away, no matter
which of the young bucks of the valley had the good fortune to win her
for a wife.

CHAPTER XI

THE FAT IN THE FIRE

For two days Fraser remained in the cabin of the stockman Howard,
France making it his business to see that the place was never left
unguarded for a moment. At the end of that time the fever had greatly
abated, and he was doing so well that Doctor Lee decided it would be
better to move him to the Dillon ranch for the convenience of all
parties.

This was done, and the patient continued steadily to improve. His
vigorous constitution, helped by the healthy, clean, outdoor life he
had led, stood him in good stead. Day by day he renewed the blood he
had lost. Soon he was eating prodigious dinners, and between meals was
drinking milk with an egg beaten in it.

On a sunny forenoon, when he lay in the big window of the living room,
reading a magazine, Arlie entered, a newspaper in her hand. Her eyes