Pagina 281 de 439

They stayed through the day, and ate dinner at the tail of the

chuck wagon with the cattlemen. The light of the camp fires,

already blazing in the nipping night air, shone brightly. The

ranger rode back with her to the ranch, but next morning he asked

Arlie if she could lend him an old pair of chaps discarded by her

father.

She found a pair for him.

"If you don't mind, I'll ride out to the round-up and stay with

the boys a few days," he suggested.

"You're going to ride with them," she accused.

"I thought I would. I'm not going to saddle myse'f on you two

ladies forever."

"You know we're glad to have you. But that isn't it. What about

your heart? You know you can't ride the range."

He flushed, and knew again that feeling of contempt for himself,

or, to be more exact, for his position.

"I'll be awful careful, Miss Arlie," was all he found to say.

She could not urge him further, lest he misunderstand her.

"Of course, you know best," she said, with a touch of coldness.