l purpose in life, which was to help young
folks realize their ideals, when such ideals did not lead too far from
everyday responsibilities.

Yet, with all her capabilities, her gentle wisdom, and her unobtrusive
sympathy, she was unable to influence her Brother Jim--known by every
one as "Cheyenne"--toward a settled habit of life. So it became her
fondest desire to see that Cheyenne's boy, Little Jim, should be brought
up in a home that he would always cherish and respect. Aunt Jane's
husband Frank Lawrence, had no patience with Cheyenne's aimless
meanderings. Frank Lawrence was a hard-working, silent nonentity. Aunt
Jane was the real manager of the ranch, and incidentally of Little Jim,
and her husband was more than content that it should be so.

Occasionally Aunt Jane gave a dance at her home. The young folks of the
valley came, had a jolly time, and departed, some of them on horseback,
some in buckboards, and one or two of the more well-to-do in that small
but aggressive vehicle which has since become a universal odor in the
nostrils of the world.

Little Jim detested these functions which entailed his best clothes and
his best behavior. He did not like girls, and looked down with scorn
upon young men who showed any preference for the sex feminine. He made
but two exceptions to this hard-baked rule: his Aunt Jane, and her young
friend who lived on the neighboring ranch, Dorothy. Little Jim called
her Dorry because it sounded like a boy's name. And he liked Dorry
because she could ride, and shoot with a twenty-two rifle almost as well
as he could. Then, she didn't have a beau, which was the main thing.
Once he told her frankly that if she ever got a beau, he--Jimmy--was
going to quit.

"Quit what?" asked Dorothy, smiling.

Little Jim did not know just what he was going to quit, but he had
imagination.

"Why, quit takin' you out huntin' and campin' and showin' you how to
tell deer tracks from goat's tracks--and everything."

"But I have a beau," said Dorothy teasingly.

"Who is he?" demanded Little Jim.

"Promise you won't tell?"

Little Jim hesitated. He did not consider it quite the thing to promise
a girl anything. But he was curious. "Uh-huh," he said.

"Jimmy Hastings!" said Dorothy, laughing at his expression.

"That ain't fair!" blurted Little Jim. "I ain't nobody's beau. Shucks!
Now you gone and spoiled all the fun."

"I was only teasing you, Jimmy." And she patted Little Jim's tousled
head. H