tonishment at the amount of
it. At first glance, there appeared to be only a little less than a
bushel. The postmaster, who had forgotten Bowers's instructions, grinned
knowingly as he passed out photographs and sweet-scented, pink-tinted
envelopes addressed to the sheepherder in feminine writing.

"So he had done it!" Kate mused as she crowded them all into the leather
mail sack which bulged to the point of refusing to buckle. The letter
she expected was among the rest, and, as she looked at the draft it
contained, a smile that had meant not only gratification but exultation
lurked at the corners of her mouth. She led her horse to the bank and
tied it. Mr. Wentz came nimbly forward to the receiving teller's window
as she entered, and flashed his eloquent eyes at her.

"You're quite a stranger!" he greeted her tritely, and added, "But we've
been reading about you."

Kate looked her surprise.

"In the _Grit_--haven't you seen it? A great boost! Butefish really
writes vurry, vurry well when he puts his mind to it."

This explained the warmer temperature, she thought sardonically, but
said merely:

"I haven't seen the paper." Then changing the subject: "I've decided to
increase the size of my account with you, Mr. Wentz. I'll leave this
draft on open deposit, though it may be considerable time before I need
it." She passed it to him carelessly.

Since leaving the laundry, where he had been as temperamental as he
liked, and taken it out on the wringer, Mr. Wentz had endeavored to
train himself to conceal his feelings, and imagined he had succeeded.
But now the wild impulse he felt to crawl through the aperture and
embrace Kate told him otherwise.

Kate watched the play of emotions over his face in deep satisfaction.
There was no need of words to express his gratitude--which was mostly
relief.

"I appreciate this, Miss Prentice, I do indeed. I am glad that you do
not hold it against us because upon a time we were not able to
accommodate you."

"A bank must abide by its rules, I presume," she replied noncommittally.

"Exactly! A bank must protect its customers at all hazards."

"And the directors."

Mr. Wentz colored. Did she mean anything in particular? He wondered. He
continued to speculate after her departure. It was a random shot, he
decided. If it had been otherwise she scarcely would be giving him her
business now, especially to the extent of this deposit--which he was
needing--well, nobody but Mr. Went