"

Charley had joined them now. "Poor Dick!" she said. "That alfalfa field
was dearer to him than any of you know. He'll cool down by the time he
reaches Archer's and brings back more seed. Why can't you all stay to
supper here?"

"It's too much trouble for you," protested Ernest, weakly.

"You can all help," said Charley. "Please all stay." Something in the
eagerness of her low voice touched Roger as it did the other men.

"Of course, we're delighted to stay," he exclaimed, tossing Felicia to
his shoulder. "Come along, chicken, we'll split some wood for sister."

"And me, I must wash myself," said Crazy Dutch, "and give Peter some
hay."

"And me, I'll help get the supper," said Ernest.

CHAPTER VIII

THE LONELY HUNTER

As soon as Ernest and she were alone in the kitchen, Charley whispered:
"How about Mrs. von Minden?"

"Oh, they had a fine row. She wants his strong box. She said at first
that she didn't know what she wanted but later confessed that it was her
marriage certificate plus something the Yogis were to put her wise to."

"Poor old soul!" exclaimed Charley softly. "What tragedy do you suppose
is back of all this?"

"I don't know. But none of us urged the poor old girl to come up here
with us. He says he's going to spend the night with you, but if Dick
isn't here--"

"That's all right," said Charley. "He stays here often when Dick is
gone. He and I are great friends. I shall say nothing at all about his
wife, unless he does."

"That's the best cue, I think," agreed Ernest; "I'm so darned sorry
about the alfalfa, Charley."

"Pioneer luck," replied the girl shaking her dark head. "I feel rather
heartsick about it myself. If only Dick wouldn't go to pieces so! That's
what worries me, because we may have many failures before the alfalfa
catches and he is going to have such a hard time."

"I can't see why you chose such a difficult part of the world to farm
in," mused Ernest.

"That's where the sport comes in," returned Charley with a smile.

Whatever discomfort Dick's surly and erratic moods may have cost her
Charley gave no sign that evening of having any thought save the comfort
and entertainment of her guests. Before Felicia had been sent to bed and
after the men, all smoking, had listened to Von Minden's dissertation on
sand storms, Charley suggested that Peter be invited in and put through
his paces.

To the surprise and delight of the others, when Crazy Dutch went to the
door