"There was one, but he was stricken with fever and after that I never
have had a desire to become married. Think I would like to run a ranch,
though, now I am getting old and need some one to take care of me," she
playfully added, causing a genuine ripple of merriment.

"Miss Asquith, you are all right," said Hazel. "Don't let these carping
critics cause you to forego any fun there is in life, even to playing
tag with a cattle king," which, of course, produced another burst of
laughter.

"I shall have to insist upon your accompanying us to 'Buena Vista,' Miss
Asquith. I think you can spare the time and positively we can not get
along without you," said Chiquita.

"I shall have to give up that pleasure. I must go on my journey." The
reply was rather sad, but she quickly recovered her usual vivacity. "I
want another trial at those fish. I suppose I will have to leave
Saturday, and this is Wednesday--"

"Well, well, who are these girls conspiring against now?" said Cal, as
he drove up with Jack.

"We have just talked Miss Asquith to death and tried to get her to go
with us to 'Buena Vista.' You will go, won't you, Cal?" said Chiquita.

"Oh, you bet, I'd never lose such an opportunity. Guess you will change
your mind, Miss Asquith. In fact we will have to take you prisoner."

"I want to catch a fish before I leave Estes. Now, be good and go down
in the meadow and tie one somewhere to the bank so I can find it,"
banteringly replied Miss Asquith.

"We will go Friday and I pledge the fish, a big one," said Cal.

Seated upon the beautiful roan pony, Miss Asquith, followed by Cal, went
to the meadow Friday afternoon, while the others lolled in hammocks
around the hotel. The sky was just the least bit clouded and a warm
south wind blew lazily across the park. A few fingerlings had been
lifted from the riffles when Miss Asquith headed her pony into deep
water up stream at a big bend where the river was sixty feet wide. Cal
was busy whipping the eddies farther down. As her pony was well trained
to the angling pastime, he knew almost as well as his rider what was
wanted. Stepping slowly along until the water reached his belly the pony
stopped, Miss Asquith's flies flashed behind, then she gracefully
dropped the leader far over the stream to the other shore.

"Oh, dear," she exclaimed, "they have gone too far and caught in the
grass. How--how will I ever--"

Just then the tail fly dangled down to the surface of the wate