left the ranch a day or so. Or even longer, some
time. There's got to be some one here who is the head when there is
need for it."

Judith mirthfully acquiesced. Hampton's interest was sufficiently
heavy for him to be entitled to some consideration. Besides, she had
come to experience a liking for the boy and had seen in him the change
for the better which his new life was working in him. Further, she
meant to make it her business that she did not leave the ranch for a
day or so, or an hour or so, when she should be there. Consequently,
within a week Pollock Hampton was known humorously from one end to the
other of the big ranch as the Foreman-at-Large.

Marcia Langworthy, visiting in southern California, wrote brief, sunny
notes to Hampton, intricate letters to Judith. The mystery of Bud Lee
of which she had had a glimpse when the artist, Dick Farris, and Lee
recognized each other as old friends had piqued her curiosity in a way
which allowed that young daughter of Eve no rest until she had made her
own investigations. She wrote at length, telling Judith all that she
had learned of Lee. How he had been quite the rage, my dear. Oh,
tremendously rich, with great ranch in the South, a wonderful adobe
hacienda of the old Spanish days, where, like a young king, he had
entertained lavishly. How, believing in his friends, he had lost
everything, then had dropped out of the world, content equally to allow
that world to believe him soldiering in France or dead in the trenches
and to take his wage as a common laborer. Wasn't it too romantic for
anything?

In due course, following up her letters, Marcia herself came back to
the Blue Lake ranch, Judith's guest now. The major and Mrs. Langworthy
were visiting in the East--it seemed that they always visited
somewhere--and Marcia would stay at the ranch indefinitely. Hampton
drove into Rocky Bend for her and held the girl's breathless admiration
all the way home, handling the reins of his young team in a thoroughly
reckless, shivery manner.

"Isn't he splendid?" cried Marcia when she slipped away with Judith to
her room.

Under the bright approval of Marcia's eyes Hampton flushed with
pleasure. Could Mrs. Langworthy have seen them together she would have
nudged the major and whispered in his ear.

During the two months after the dance, Bud Lee and Judith had seen
virtually nothing of each other. When routine duties or a necessary
report brought them for a f