Despite this
assurance, the two girls and Mrs. Burton were spending the night at the
ranch.

"I don't believe you appreciate, Mrs. Burton, how great a pleasure and
an honor your presence in our home is both to my son and me. We are so
far out of the world and with no women in our family are often extremely
lonely. However, we are not so remote that we have not heard of Mrs.
Burton's distinguished reputation."

Mr. Morris spoke with an old-fashioned courtesy and admiration which no
one could fail to appreciate.

His guest preferred not to talk of her professional life during her
summer holidays with the Camp Fire girls.

"At least I am sure we shall never forget our own pleasure," Mrs. Burton
returned. "The fact of the matter was I discovered at once that Sally
and Gerry were determined upon remaining as soon as you and your son
were kind enough to invite us. It is my private belief that Sally even
pretended to be more seriously hurt in order to influence my decision.
She appears to be enjoying the role of injured heroine, and yet I can
scarcely criticise the girls, as I did not require a great deal of
persuasion."

As a matter of fact, soon after her arrival she also had fallen a victim
to the beauty and romantic aspect of the old Spanish estate and to the
charm and hospitality of its owners. Moreover, Mrs. Burton realized that
Mr. Morris and his son were sincerely desirous of having them as guests.
Their invitation had not been merely a conventional one and the old
house seemed to possess an almost indefinite number of shabby bedrooms.

With an expressive gesture of her hands Mrs. Burton suddenly arose and
walked with her host to the edge of the hill which sloped down from the
front of his house.

"You are not very far out of the world when, as you tell me, the new
National Guard camp is being built on the broad mesa below you. Is it
where I see the little row of lights? Wherever our soldiers are is the
only world that is of much importance these days! I am to drive over
soon and see the new cantonment. My Camp Fire girls and I are anxious to
find out if we can be of the least possible service. Recently, for the
first time in my life, there have been moments when I was sorry to be a
woman."

"And yet it is a sadder thing to be an old man, Mrs. Burton. I offered
my services at the beginning, but I am past sixty and--well--well, they
were right, of course; I am not a trained soldier and not even a
competent b