g her suit, son; you better name the day," one of
the loungers suggested.

"The blamed thing ain't worth twenty-five dollars," the young man from the
East declared. A conspicuous silence followed. It seemed to irritate the
owner of the hat that no one would defend it. "It ain't worth it," he
repeated.

"I think you allowed you was out here for your health?" the big Texan, who
had returned from the corral, inquired.

"Betcher life," swaggered the man with the hat, "N'York's good enough for
me."

"But"--and the Texan smiled sweetly--"the man who sold you the hat ain't out
here for his."

Judith hid her head and stamped letters. The boys were suspiciously quiet,
then some one began to chant:

"The devil examined the desert well,
And made up his mind 'twas too dry for hell;
He put up the prices his pockets to swell,
And called it a--heal-th resort."

The postmistress waited for the last note of the chorus to die away, and
read from a package she held in her hand--"'Mrs. Henry Lee, Deer Lodge,
Wyoming.' Well, Henry, here's a wedding-present, I guess. And my
congratulations, though you've hardly treated us well in never saying a
word."

The unfortunate Henry, who hadn't even a sweetheart, and who was noted as
the shyest man in the "Goose Creek Outfit," had to submit to the mock
congratulations of every man in the room and promise to set up the drinks
later.

"I never felt we'd keep you long, son; them golden curls seldom gets a
chance to ripen singly."

"Shoshone squaw, did you say she was, Henry? They ain't much for looks,
but there's a heep of wear to 'em."

"Oh, go on, now; you fellows know I ain't married." And the boy handled
the package with a sort of dumb wonder, as if the superscription were
indisputable evidence of a wife's existence.

"Open it, Henry; you shore don't harbor sentiments of curiosity regarding
the post-office dealings of your lady."

"Now, old man, this here may be grounds for divorce."

"See what the other fellow's sending your wife."

Henry, badgered, jostled, the target of many a homely witticism, finally
opened the package, which proved to be a sample bottle of baby food. At
sight of it they howled like Apaches, and Henry was again forced to
receive their congratulations. Judith, who had been an interested
on-looker without joining in the merriment, now detected in the tenor of
their humor a tendency towards breadth. In an instant her manner was
official; rapping the t