trail, Jeb motioned to Mr.
Brewster that he wished to speak with him, so they permitted their
horses to slow up and drop behind for a time.

"Ah'm thinkin', Mis'r Brewster, thet Ah'll have to give notice that Ah'm
quittin' your ranch. Not what Ah've got any kick comin' about the
fam'ly--thar never w'ar a nicer one. But Ah've got ta save mahself."

"Jeb!" gasped Sam Brewster in unbelief. "You _couldn't_ leave us! Why,
man, you're one of the family."

"Yeh, Ah knows all that, Mis'r Brewster, but Ah jus' dasent stay where a
female badgers my peace o' mind."

"Tell me what is wrong, Jeb, and Ah'll fix it if Ah can," anxiously
promised Sam Brewster.

Jeb gazed wildly about for some one to explain for him, and in gazing,
his eye rested on John. Big splendid John who had only been a little
shaver when he went to Pebbly Pit to work.

"Oh John! Cain't you-all drop back and tell your Paw what ails me?"
shouted Jeb, certain that John, who had been to college, could do
anything.

John dropped behind his companions, and Sam Brewster hurriedly explained
that Jeb seemed to have a queer belief that he would be done for if he
remained at Pebbly Pit.

"Oh, did Jeb bother you about that story, Dad? Here, you ride on in my
place, and let me get this thing straightened out."

Alone with Jeb, John said persuasively: "Now tell me all about it,
Jeb--begin from the beginning."

"Wall, seein' es how you-all is in love, mebbe you-all kin understand
about this love-stuff.

"Now, yuh see, John, when that Sary Dodd come to Pebbly Pit es a widder,
to help housework, she never cast an eye around fer a likely 'second'
until that derned old dance at the school-house. It wuz that time when
she perked up in all that borrered finery that she landed a rich ole
bachelor-rancher on her ticket to dinner. But he gave one look and run.
He never showed up again that night.

"Seein' like-es-how her partner vamoosed, she grabbed me to do the Grand
March with her. Mebbe it w'ar the way Ah danced, that took her fancy.
But whatever it w'ar, she's ben locooed after me sence that night.

"Now, John, yuh know Sary ain't no prize-winner fer looks, en Ah knows a
good looker when Ah seez one, cuz Ah hev sat and seen lots of pritty
gals on the movie sheet in Oak Crick. Gosh! Some of them peaches Ah
see'd would make yuh leave a stiddy job like Pebbly Pit. So Ah saved and
_saved_ till now Ah've got a tidy bit laid by fer some pritty gal, like
them in the Movi