, it was left there by a friend of mine."

"Oh--I see! I remember, now. Sanborn is where you--er--took the train
for El Paso?"

"We left our hosses there--same as the paper said."

"H-mm! Well, I suppose the horse is to be sold for charges. Sheriff's
sale, I understand."

"Oh, you're safe in buyin' _him_ all right. And he sure is a good one."

"Well, I'll speak to the chief. I imagine he'll let you go with me."

Pete shook his head. "Nope. He wouldn't even if he had the say. But
the sheriff of Sanborn County has kind of invited me to go over there
for a spell. I guess he figured on leavin' here in a couple of days."

"He can't take you till I certify that you're able to stand the
journey," said Andover brusquely.

"Well, he's comin' to-morrow. I'm dead sick of stayin' here. Can't
you tell him I kin travel?"

"We'll see how you feel to-morrow. Hello! Here's Miss Gray. What,
six o'clock! I had no idea . . . Yes, a little temperature, Miss
Gray. Too much excitement. A little surface inflammation--nothing
serious. A good night's rest and he'll be a new man. Good-night."

Pete was glad to see Doris. Her mere presence was restful. He sighed
heavily, glanced up at her and smiled. "A little soup, Miss Gray.
It's awful excitin'. Slight surface inflammation on them boiled beets.
Nothin' serious--they ain't scorched. A good night's rest and the
cook'll be a new man tomorrow. Doc Andover is sure all right--but I
always feel like he was wearin' kid gloves and was afraid of gittin'
'em dirty, every time he comes in."

Doris was not altogether pleased by Pete's levity and her face showed
it. She did not smile, but rearranged the things on the tray in a
preoccupied manner, and asked him if there was anything else he wanted.

"Lemme see?" Pete frowned prodigiously. "Got salt and pepper and
butter and sugar; but I reckon you forgot somethin' that I'm wantin' a
whole lot."

"What is it?"

"You're forgittin' to smile."

"I read that letter from Mr. Bailey."

"I'm mighty glad you did, Miss Gray. I wanted you to know what was in
that letter. You'd sure like Ma Bailey, and Jim and Andy. Andy was my
pardner--when--afore I had that trouble with Steve Gary. No use tryin'
to step round it now. I reckon you know all about it."

"And you will be going back to them--to your friends on the ranch?"

"Well--I aim to. I got to go over to Sanborn first."

"Sanborn? Do you mean--?"

"Jest what