orch and watch Dicky work?
That's not my idea of a pioneer's mate."

"But can you stand it?" asked Roger.

"It's no harder than golf and tennis and a swim all in one day. I've
done that many a time. And I'm as eager as Dick is to reclaim this
desert. I'm almost if not quite as interested in this as you are in your
work."

"I didn't mean to intrude or criticize," began Roger.

"You didn't do either. I appreciate your interest, and I'm just trying
to make you see that the pioneer women aren't all dead yet. Some day
there'll be pepper trees and peach trees along that ditch, and for miles
and miles round here, the green of alfalfa."

"If you get enough water," murmured Roger.

"If we get enough water," agreed Charley.

They both paused and looked from Dick, sweating behind the horses, to
the unending yellow of the desert against which Dick and the horses
looked like pygmies. Finally Charley said with a sudden chuckle,

"Roger, one thing I do remember is your spitfire rages--very vaguely,
but they must have been rather devastating to have made an impression on
my baby mind."

Roger's smile was a little twisted. "Nice thing to remember of me. Where
is your tact, woman!"

"Mercy! You aren't sensitive about it after all these years? I thought
it funny that your baby temper and the pool were all I could rake up out
of our past."

"Where is Felicia?" asked Roger, abruptly.

"She went up to the spring to fill my little canteen with water."

"Thank heaven," said Roger, "that she can't rake up my past. I'm going
to stroll up to meet her." And he doffed his hat and was off, feeling
that somehow he had not made great headway.

CHAPTER V

VON MINDEN

That evening, after the little fire had burned to a bed of coals, Ernest
said: "About time for the stuff to have come from St. Louis."

"I've been thinking of that," returned Roger. "And we've nearly run
through the Prebles' extra supplies. Why don't you go in to Archer's
Springs and bring a load out. Dick is planning to go day after
to-morrow."

"Wouldn't you rather go?" asked Ernest.

"Not if I can help it."

"Thank heaven!" exclaimed Ernest. "I was afraid you'd want the job, and
even Archer's Springs would look good to me!"

Roger laughed and slapped Ernest on the shoulder. "You homesick
Dutchman! Crazy for the mail, aren't you? There must be something there
from Austin. I'm glad you want to go, for I'd hate the trip. Let's turn
in!"

Wednesday mor