work."

"It would so. She's a rare little business woman. Let me see, how old is
she?"

"Eighteen next November."

"She seems like a woman of twenty."

"I couldn't run for a week without her," answered the mother, rolling
down her sleeves in acknowledgment that they had entered upon a real
conversation.

"She's a little queen," declared Haney.

It was very hot and the flies were buzzing about, but the big gambler
had no mind to these discomforts, so intent was he upon bringing his
proposal before the mother. Straightened in his chair and fixing a keen
glance upon her face, he began his attack. "'Tis folly to allow anything
to trouble you, my dear woman--if anny debt presses, let me know, and
I'll lift it for ye."

The weary mother felt the sincerity of his offer, and replied, with much
feeling: "You're mighty good, Captain Haney, but we're more than holding
our own, and another year will see the ranch clear. I'm just as much
obliged to you, though; you're a true friend."

"But I don't like to think of you here for another year--and Bertie
should not stand here another day with every Tom, Dick, and Harry
passin' their blarney with her. She's fitter to be mistress of a big
house of her own, an' 'tis that I've the mind to give her; and I can,
for I'm no longer on the ragged edge. I own two of the best mines on the
hill, and I want her to share me good-fortune with me."

Mrs. Gilman, worn out as she was, was still quick where her daughter's
welfare was concerned, and she looked at the big man with wonder and
inquiry, and a certain accusation in her glance.

"What do you mean, Captain?"

The big gambler was at last face to face with his decision, and with but
a moment's hesitation replied, "As my wife, I mean, of course."

She sank back in her chair and looked at him with eyes of consternation.
"Why, Captain Haney! Do you really mean that?"

"I do!" He had a feeling at the moment that he had always been honorable
in his intentions.

"But--but--you're so old--I mean so much older--"

"I know I am, and I'm rough. I don't deny that. I'm forty, but then I'm
what they call well preserved," he smiled, winningly, "and I'll soon
have an income of wan hundred thousand dollars a year."

This turned the current of her emotion--she gasped. "One hundred
thousand dollars!"

He held up a warning hand. "Sh! now that's between us. There are those
younger than I, 'tis true, but there is a kind of saving grace in money.