always," she said with a catch in her
voice.

"Do you mean it, Bet?" asked Joy. "I think it's great, of course, but
it's too much like a hothouse to suit me. I wouldn't think of living
here forever."

At that moment they were interrupted by the silent appearance of Tang,
the Chinese cook. A tea wagon was being wheeled in by two young
Chinese boys, Tang himself being too dignified to help in the serving.
When he wanted to give an order to his boys he clapped his hands and
they responded as quickly as if he delivered his command in a loud
voice.

Tea was served in small Chinese bowls with preserved fruits, ginger and
wafer-like cakes. A bland smile covered the face of Tang as he glided
softly about the veranda; a well satisfied air expressed his content
with life. He motioned to the boys to place a stool here and another
there beside the chairs. These were to be used as tables.

"Some service!" whispered Shirley in Bet's ear. "Don't you love it?"

"I feel like a million dollars--or maybe two!" answered Bet.

The old professor seemed quite at ease. He accepted the attention of
the servants without the least surprise or embarrassment over his
soiled clothes.

The honking of an auto horn announced the arrival of the second car.
Somewhere during the trip the silent Judge seemed to have lost much of
his reserve. He hailed Tang as if he were an old friend, and the
dignified Chinaman placed the pillows on a reclining chair which
awaited Mrs. Breckenridge, as the Judge carried her into the patio.
The invalid might have been a child, so easily did the tall man lift
her and move her from place to place.

"How lovely this is!" the woman cried. "I'm sure I'll get well now. I
believe all the peace in the world is right here."

Enid was standing beside her mother, arranging and rearranging the
pillows to make sure that the invalid was comfortable.

"Of course you'll get well," laughed the Judge. "Before long you'll be
busting broncos, as Kit says. You can't help but feel better in this
glorious air," he said, stroking her thin hand.

The woman smiled at the happy faces about her then her eyes rested
hungrily on her daughter. Her heart had not yet been satisfied, she
was eager to make up to that daughter for the years of separation.

The Judge had owned the ranch for three years, but this was the first
visit his wife had made to it. The doctors had tried to persuade her
to leave the Long Island home where