nection with the accident and
the father and daughter which it had brought so involuntarily under his
roof. He was quite sober now, and his speech, although slovenly, was
not indelicate. He was still able to pay to woman that respect which
curbs the coarseness of a tongue for years subjected to little
discipline.

After breakfast Irene attended to the wants of her father, and by this
time the visiting doctor was manifesting impatience to be away. Other
fees were calling him, and he assured Doctor Hardy, what the latter
quite well knew, that nothing more could be done for him at present.
He would come again at any time if summoned by the young man, or if his
professional duties should bring him into the neighborhood of the Elden
ranch. But Dave declared with prompt finality that the horses must
rest until after noon, and the doctor, willy-nilly, spent the morning
rambling in the foothills. Meanwhile the girl busied herself with work
about the house, in which she was effecting a rapid transformation.

After the mid-day dinner Dave harnessed the team for the journey to
town, but before leaving inquired of Irene if there were any special
purchases, either personal or for the use of the house, which she would
recommend. With some diffidence she mentioned one that was uppermost
in her thoughts: soap, both laundry and toilet. Dr. Hardy had no
hesitation in calling for a box of his favorite cigars and some new
magazines, and took occasion to press into the boy's hand a bill out of
all proportion to the value of the supplies requested. There was an
argument in the yard, which the girl did not fully hear, between father
and son, but she gathered that the old man insisted on going to town,
and, failing that, that Dave should replenish his stock of whiskey, to
neither of which would the young man consent. It was evident that Dave
was the responsible person in the affairs of the Elden ranch.

The day was introductory to others that were to follow. Dave returned
the next afternoon, riding his own horse, and heavily laden with
cigars, magazines, soap, and with a soft little package which proved to
be a sponge, which he had bought on his own initiative, and which he
tendered to Irene. She took it with slowly rising color, and with a
strange misgiving whether this was a bona fide contribution to the
toilet equipment of the house, or a quiet satire designed to offset the
effect of the appeal for soap.

The following day it