ying them all the way to Soria's," replied
Clara. "Safe enough, too. It isn't once in a coon's age that anybody
travels around these places. Funny, isn't it, when you think of all the
crowded spots there are in the world?"

"It reminds me," said Hard, with a reminiscent chuckle, "of a yarn. I was
in New Mexico on a hunting trip with Joe McArthur--you remember the Boston
McArthurs who had a ranch near one of the Apache reservations? Well, we
rode up to the agency store to ask old Slade, the trader, about an Indian
guide.

"We got him and started out the next day. We were riding up among the
pines--great tall fellows, a regular park of them; not a living thing in
sight except the birds, not a sound except the river. McArthur and I were
riding behind Charley, the guide. We'd been arguing rather aimlessly as to
whether an Indian had a sense of humor or not; Joe thought they hadn't,
while I contended that they had.

"The quiet of the place rather got us. McArthur took a silver dollar from
his pocket and said: 'Hard, I believe I could lay this dollar on that
stump over there and come back here in a year and find it there.' Old
Charley turned around, his wrinkled face twisted into a grin. 'No,' he
said, 'no find him nex' year. Mr. Slade he get him nex' morning.'

"Well, Charley got the dollar and McArthur admitted that I had the right
of the argument."

"That sounds to me just like a McArthur of Boston," said Clara, severely.
"An Indian without a sense of humor! Just because they don't see fit to
howl over the fool things a white man howls over, I suppose." She did not
speak again for some time, then she burst out tempestuously:

"Henry, why did you begin talking about Boston? Do you know, I've been
more lonesome for the dear old place in the last twenty-four hours than
ever before? I wonder if seeing you has made me homesick?"

"I hope so," said Hard. "It's time for you to go back to Boston, Clara."

"Perhaps; but I shall come back here. Once this country gets on its feet I
can sell for a decent price. There's going to be a rush to Mexico some day
when people find that they can come without risking their lives and their
money."

"Do you think that time is coming soon?"

"I hope it is. This last move looks hopeful. If Obregon can establish a
good government, he will. Of course, our people will have to be patient.
At any rate, I'm going to risk it."

"Yes," smiled Hard, "you would feel that way, of course."

"Mone