when Helene Spenceley learned
that he was sinking a well on his place for household and stock
purposes.

He had taken advantage of the opportunity which the gift of the cake
presented to send her a note of thanks and appreciation. In reply he had
received an invitation which had stung him worse than if she had written
that she never wanted to see him cross her threshold.

His eyes gleamed every time he read it, which was so often that it was
worn through the creases from being folded and unfolded:

Dear "Gentle Annie":

Won't you stop at the ranch on your way out and pay us a visit?
I presume the middle of the summer at latest will see the last
of you as I have no idea that you will be able to go through the
discouragements and hardships attendant upon proving up on a
homestead.

My brother also will enjoy meeting you as he has heard so much
of you.

Looking for you soon, I am
Sincerely,
HELENE SPENCELEY.

P.S. I have a new sweater pattern that I am sure will please you.

Every word had a nettle in it, a taunt that made him tingle. It seemed
to Wallie he had never known such a "catty" woman, and he meant to tell
her so, some day, when he was rich and successful and had proved how
wrong she was in her estimate of him.

He was tempted to send her word, on a postal, anonymously, of the well
he was digging if he had not feared she would suspect him. It seemed so
long to wait for Pinkey to convey the tidings.

Rufus arrived on Monday morning, and the "crew" to which he had referred
proved to be members of his own family--John and Will--whales as to
size, and clownish.

It came to Wallie's mind that if they did not move any faster when they
worked than when they were at leisure, the well-digging would be a long
process, and his heart sank when he saw them feeding their horses so
liberally from the hay which had cost $20 a ton, delivered.

The first intimation Wallie had of what he had let himself in for was
when Rufus asked in a confidential tone, as if he were imparting
something for Wallie's ear only:

"I wonder if we could get a bite to eat before we start in? We eat so
early this morning that I don't feel as if I had had anything."

Wallie had a pan of biscuit which he had intended for dinner but he
concealed his reluctance and managed to say with a show of hospi