ok so good."

Auchincloss did not press his point farther at that time, but after the
meal, when the other men came to see Dale's camp and pets, Helen's quick
ears caught the renewal of the subject.

"I'm askin' you--will you come?" Auchincloss said, low and eagerly.

"No. I wouldn't fit in down there," replied Dale.

"Milt, talk sense. You can't go on forever huntin' bear an' tamin'
cats," protested the old rancher.

"Why not?" asked the hunter, thoughtfully.

Auchincloss stood up and, shaking himself as if to ward off his testy
temper, he put a hand on Dale's arm.

"One reason is you're needed in Pine."

"How? Who needs me?"

"I do. I'm playin' out fast. An' Beasley's my enemy. The ranch an' all I
got will go to Nell. Thet ranch will have to be run by a man an' HELD
by a man. Do you savvy? It's a big job. An' I'm offerin' to make you my
foreman right now."

"Al, you sort of take my breath," replied Dale. "An' I'm sure grateful.
But the fact is, even if I could handle the job, I--I don't believe I'd
want to."

"Make yourself want to, then. Thet 'd soon come. You'd get interested.
This country will develop. I seen thet years ago. The government is
goin' to chase the Apaches out of here. Soon homesteaders will be
flockin' in. Big future, Dale. You want to get in now. An'--"

Here Auchincloss hesitated, then spoke lower:

"An' take your chance with the girl!... I'll be on your side."

A slight vibrating start ran over Dale's stalwart form.

"Al--you're plumb dotty!" he exclaimed.

"Dotty! Me? Dotty!" ejaculated Auchincloss. Then he swore. "In a minit
I'll tell you what you are."

"But, Al, that talk's so--so--like an old fool's."

"Huh! An' why so?"

"Because that--wonderful girl would never look at me," Dale replied,
simply.

"I seen her lookin' already," declared Al, bluntly.

Dale shook his head as if arguing with the old rancher was hopeless.

"Never mind thet," went on Al. "Mebbe I am a dotty old fool--'specially
for takin' a shine to you. But I say again--will you come down to Pine
and be my foreman?"

"No," replied Dale.

"Milt, I've no son--an' I'm--afraid of Beasley." This was uttered in an
agitated whisper.

"Al, you make me ashamed," said Dale, hoarsely. "I can't come. I've no
nerve."

"You've no what?"

"Al, I don't know what's wrong with me. But I'm afraid I'd find out if I
came down there."

"A-huh! It's the girl!"

"I don't know, but I'm afraid so. An' I won't come."