are you going to do with two horses?"

"He's not mine," Jane replied. "He is----" She stopped, her gray eyes
dancing. "He belongs to a dear friend of mine. Her name is Dorothy
Martin."

Dorothy stared, as though wondering if Jane had suddenly taken leave of
her senses.

"Wake up, Dorothy!" Jane laid an affectionate hand on Dorothy's
shoulder. "He's yours. Dad sent him to you. He's come all the way from
Capitan to see you. Aren't you going to say 'How de do' to him?"

"Jane--I----"

Dorothy turned and hid her head against Jane's shoulder.

"This is a nice way to welcome poor Midnight," laughed Jane, as her arm
went round Dorothy. Her own voice was not quite steady.

"I--I--it's too much," quavered Dorothy, raising her head. "I can't
believe that beauty is for me. It's too wonderful to be true. I must be
dreaming."

"But it _is_ true. If you don't believe me, read this."

Jane drew a square, white envelope from the pocket of her riding coat
and offered it to Dorothy.

"It's for you, from Dad," she explained. "I've been keeping it until
Midnight came. This is the outcome of a plot. A real plot between Dad
and me."

Dorothy took the letter, her eyes still misty.

"We'll read it together, Jane," she said.

Arms entwined about each other's waists, the two girls read Henry
Allen's letter to his daughter's friend.

"DEAR MISS DOROTHY," it began. "Jane has written me that Firefly
complains a great deal about being lonely. He misses Midnight, an
old chum of his. So I decided that Midnight might come East,
provided he had someone to look after his welfare. Jane has told me
so much about you, and that you resemble one who, though gone from
us, grows ever dearer with years.

"Because of this, and because of your many kindnesses to my girl, I
hope you will accept Midnight for your own special pet. He is very
gentle and, in my opinion, quite as fine a little horse as Firefly.
You cannot, of course, expect Jane to say that. I send him to you
with my very best wishes and trust that you and Jane will have many
long rides together.

"My sister and I look forward to meeting you next summer. Jane
tells me that she will surely bring you home with her when college
closes next June. We shall be delighted to welcome you to El
Capitan. My sister joins me in sending you our kindest regards.

"Y