ngstreth.
Duane peeped in to see a dilapidated youngster on her knee. That sight,
if any other was needed, completed his full and splendid estimate of Ray
Longstreth and wrought strangely upon his heart.

"The ranger," replied Mrs. Laramie.

"The ranger!" exclaimed Miss Longstreth.

"Yes, he's taken care of us all since--since--" Mrs. Laramie choked.

"Oh! So you've had no help but his," replied Miss Longstreth, hastily.
"No women. Too bad! I'll send some one, Mrs. Laramie, and I'll come
myself."

"It'll be good of you," went on the older woman. "You see, Jim had
few friends--that is, right in town. And they've been afraid to help
us--afraid they'd get what poor Jim--"

"That's awful!" burst out Miss Longstreth, passionately. "A brave lot of
friends! Mrs. Laramie, don't you worry any more. We'll take care of you.
Here, Ruth, help me. Whatever is the matter with baby's dress?"

Manifestly Miss Longstreth had some difficulty in subduing her emotion.

"Why, it's on hind side before," declared Ruth. "I guess Mr. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies."

"He did the best he could," said Mrs. Laramie. "Lord only knows what
would have become of us!"

"Then he is--is something more than a ranger?" queried Miss Longstreth,
with a little break in her voice.

"He's more than I can tell," replied Mrs. Laramie. "He buried Jim. He
paid our debts. He fetched us here. He bought food for us. He cooked for
us and fed us. He washed and dressed the baby. He sat with me the first
two nights after Jim's death, when I thought I'd die myself. He's so
kind, so gentle, so patient. He has kept me up just by being near.
Sometimes I'd wake from a doze, an', seeing him there, I'd know how
false were all these tales Jim heard about him and believed at first.
Why, he plays with the children just--just like any good man might. When
he has the baby up I just can't believe he's a bloody gunman, as they
say. He's good, but he isn't happy. He has such sad eyes. He looks far
off sometimes when the children climb round him. They love him. His life
is sad. Nobody need tell me--he sees the good in things. Once he said
somebody had to be a ranger. Well, I say, 'Thank God for a ranger like
him!'"

Duane did not want to hear more, so he walked into the room.

"It was thoughtful of you," Duane said. "Womankind are needed here. I
could do so little. Mrs. Laramie, you look better already. I'm glad.
And here's baby, all clean and white. Baby, what a time I