all boy was shaking hands vigorously with Judge Breckenridge. And
Enid stepping from the train at that instant, stood and stared in
astonishment hardly believing that she was seeing aright.

"Tommy Sharpe!" she cried, running to him with both hands outstretched.
"Why, you've grown! You're almost as tall as I am. And what a grand
cowboy's outfit!"

Tommy did not speak. He shook Enid's hand but words would not come.
The boy's face was burned to a rich shade of brown, his eyes were
bright and the huskiness was gone from his voice. Health had come to
him in this dry climate. Tommy looked as if he belonged there. He was
tall, thin and muscular, a desert dweller, not at all like the sickly
boy that Enid had known and cared for on Campers' Trail.

In a moment the boy was surrounded by the girls and everybody was
talking at once. It took some time for Tommy's embarrassment to wear
off.

Even Mrs. Patten was inclined to be shy with these friends of her
daughter but Mrs. Breckenridge in her tactful way soon put her at ease.
Kit's mother was a born nurse and one glance at the sick woman made her
realize that she was needed. She helped to get the invalid into the
car with the least possible jar; she arranged pillows and a footstool
in order to ease the bumps on the rough road.

"See, she's deserted me already," laughed Kit as she watched her
mother. "I knew I wouldn't count when she saw Mrs. Breckenridge."

Suddenly there was a sort of war whoop and Billy Patten, who had hidden
behind the station, dashed out at Kit, much to the amusement of Tommy
Sharpe.

"Why you little imp! You haven't changed a single bit, Billy Patten!
You're just as bad as ever," declared his sister. "You're a pest!"

"I am not! You're another!" said the boy, and to Kit it seemed as if
she had never been away from home, for the brother and sister had
started again just where they left off, half teasing, half in earnest
as their quarreling always was.

Billy Patten was not bashful. "Bold," would have described his
attitude more than anything else.

"See this stick!" He addressed Bet suddenly at the same time frowning
defiantly as he caught Kit's eye.

"Of course I see the stick. What about it?" laughed Bet Baxter.

"It's a humming stick that grows out here in Arizona. Isn't it
wonderful! You just tap it gently like that and you can hear it hum."

Kit made a gesture to interfere but the Judge smiled tolerantly and
signalled the