* * * * *

The next afternoon while Jack searched the ranch for his scattered
possessions and tried in vain to stow them all away in his trunk, while
three crestfallen girls packed at the Hunter ranch, Carver, fresh from an
interview with Mr. Keith, sat down to write his father. The letter,
received four days later in place of its author by the Standish family,
brought surprise and consternation in its wake.

"I simply can't understand it," said Mrs. Carver Standish II, on the verge
of hysterical tears. "I've never known him to do such a thing before.
There's Ruth Sherman's house-party coming off, and the St. Clair wedding,
and the tennis tournament, and our trip to the Adirondacks--and
everything! Whatever shall I tell people who inquire? There's something
wrong with him, Carver! I never did want him to go to that place, anyway.
You'd better wire!"

"I can't see but that it's plain enough," said his father. "He simply
prefers threshing on a Wyoming ranch to a house-party or a wedding or a
tennis tournament or the Adirondacks. Let him alone. Maybe a little work
won't hurt him."

"Hurt him!" cried a certain gray-haired old gentleman, slapping his knees.
"Hurt him! It'll be the best thing that ever happened to him, in _my_
opinion! Work, and being with that little girl out there!"

"And I did so want Mrs. Van Arsdale to see him!" continued his mother.
"I'd planned all sorts of things for September. Read the letter again,
Carver."

Mr. Carver Standish II read the letter. It was brief and to the point.

"'DEAR DAD:

"'I'm not coming home till school opens. I'm going to stay out here
and help thresh. Mr. Keith is short on hands, and he says I'll do. I
wanted to help for nothing, they've all been so good to me--but he
says I mustn't. You needn't send me any money, because I'm going to
be earning two dollars a day, and maybe three if I'm any good. Please
don't let Mother object. It won't do any good anyhow, because I've
already signed a contract to stay. Mr. Keith didn't want to draw it
up, but I insisted. He does it with the other men, and I'm no better
than the rest.

"'I've got a great scheme about bringing the business West when I'm
through college. It sure is some country out here! Love to
Grandfather.

"'CARVER.'"

That Carver Standish III preferred threshing on a Wyoming ranch to a
house-party was the subject of conversation at every social affa