om, and was followed by the commandant himself.

"So you are Ted Strong, the beef contractor," said Colonel Croffut,
looking Ted over.

The colonel was a big man with a pink face and a brusque manner.

"I am," said Ted coolly.

"Excuse me. Take a seat. You needn't go, Hallie. Keep your seat,
Barrows." The colonel motioned Ted into a chair, and took one himself.

For several minutes he sat blowing clouds of smoke into the air from his
cigar, but saying nothing.

Miss Croffut and Lieutenant Barrows continued their conversation about
lawn tennis and riding, as if Ted were not there, but the lieutenant
observed that Miss Croffut's eyes strayed often toward Ted, and it made
him irritable.

"See here, young man," said the colonel, turning suddenly upon Ted in a
manner that in another person would indicate that the commandant was
very angry. "What do you mean by sending such a message to me?"

"I sent no message to you," said Ted quietly. "I didn't even know your
name until your striker mentioned it to me a few minutes ago."

Had Ted looked at the young lady at the other end of the veranda he
would have seen an irrepressible smile flit across her features, as she
looked at her father.

"That was a facer for dad," she whispered to Lieutenant Barrows, who
frowned. "The idea of telling papa that he had never heard of him, the
great warrior and Indian fighter, Colonel Croffut."

The colonel stared at Ted with a sort of amazement for a moment, and
grunted:

"Well, you're likely to know a great deal more about me before we're
through with one another."

"I hope so," said Ted pleasantly. "But what is your business with me?"

"I'll speak of it when I come to it," said the old soldier.

"Then you'll have to be quick about it, for I've been in the saddle
continuously for six weeks, and I'm tired. Besides, I've got a day's
work to do before I turn in to-night."

There was something crisp and business-like in Ted's speech, and not at
all impertinent, that caused the colonel to look at him again.

"What's this I hear about your refusal to accede to our just demand that
the cattle intended to fill your contract be turned into our pasture?"
asked the colonel sharply.

"Only this," answered Ted: "I arrived here just in time, with my stock
worn out from forced marches. I had just let them have all the water
they could drink, and it was necessary that they should have a good feed
in order to rest well to-night to be in con