, we could have eggs every day
and chickens on holidays!"

"No wonder Tom likes to ride to town," laughed Silent. "Gee whiz, I'd walk
it for pie and cake and real genuine coffee!"

"Walk it!" snorted Jim. "Huh, I'd crawl, and stand on my head, knock my
feet together and crow every half mile! Walk it, huh!"

Merriment reigned supreme throughout the meal and when the bashfulness had
worn off the conversation became fast and furious, abounding in terse wit,
verbal attacks and clever counters, and in concentrated onslaughts
against the unfortunate Humble, who soon found, however, a new and
loyal champion in Miss Ritchie, who took his part. Her assistance was so
doughty as to more than once put to rout his tormentors, and before the
dessert had been reached he was her devoted slave and admirer and was
henceforth to sing her praises at every opportunity, and even to make
opportunities.

At The Orphan's end of the table all was serene. He, Helen, Blake and
the sheriff found much to talk about, and all the while Mrs. Shields
regarded the four in a motherly way, and tempered the keenness of her
husband's wit, for he was prone to break lances with The Orphan and to
tease his sister, much to her confusion. She was very happy, for here
at her side were her husband and the man she had feared would harm him,
laughing and joking and the best of friends; and down the table a crowd
of big-hearted boys, her boys now, were having the time of their lives.
They were good boys, too, she told herself; a trifle rough, but sterling
at the heart, and every one of them a loyal friend. How good it was to
see them eat and hear them laugh, all happy and mischievous. The welding
of the units had been finished, and now the Star C and The Orphan were
one in spirit.

CHAPTER XVIII

PREPARATION

After the dinner at the sheriff's house, life meant much to The Orphan,
for the dinner had done its work and done it well. Whatever had been
missing to complete the good fellowship between him and the others had
been supplied and by the time the outfit was ready to leave for home,
all corners had been rounded and all rough edges smoothed down. With
his outfit he was in hearty, loyal accord, and the spirit of the ranch
had become his own. With the sheriff his already strong liking had been
stripped of any undesirable qualities, and he felt that Shields was not
only the whitest man he had ever met, but also his best friend. He had
become more intim