asked:

"You remember what I said at the Boosters' Club the other night?"

"I ain't apt to fergit it anyways soon," replied Teeters, dryly, "seein'
as 'Tinhorn' riz and put it to a vote as to whether they should tar and
feather you or jest naturally freeze you out."

"The truth is acid," he laughed. "It's a fact though, Teeters, that this
country's chief asset is its climate, and," with his quizzical smile,
"this Scissor Outfit would make a fine dude-ranch."

Kate did not tell Mormon Joe of her invitation until the sheep were
bedded for the night, the supper dishes out of the way and they were
sitting, as was their custom, on two boxes watching the stars and
talking while Mormon Joe smoked his pipe.

"Our company this morning made me forget to tell you how well you
handled the gate; it was a clean cut." Mormon Joe added in obvious
pride, "You're the best sheepman in the country, Katie, bar none."

"Then I wish you'd listen to me and buy some of those Rambouillets and
grade up our herd."

"We're doing all right," he returned, indifferently.

"Anybody would know you didn't like sheep."

"They're a means to an end; they keep me in the hills out of mischief
and furnish a living for us both."

"I wonder that you haven't more ambition, Uncle Joe."

"That died and was buried long ago. The little that I have left is for
you. I want you to have the benefit of what I have learned from books
and life; I want you to be happy--I can't say that I'm interested in
anything beyond that."

She threw him a kiss.

"You're too good to be true almost." Then, with a quite inexplicable
diffidence she faltered, "Uncle Joe, that--that boy asked me to go to a
dance."

He turned his head quickly and asked with a sharp note in his voice:

"Where?"

"In Prouty."

"Do you want to go?"

"I can't tell you how much!" she cried eagerly. "I can hardly believe it
is me--I--invited to a dance. I've never been out in the evening in all
my life. I don't know a single woman and may be I'll never have such a
chance again to get acquainted and make friends."

"I didn't know that you had been lonely, Katie," he said after a
silence.

"Just sometimes," she admitted.

"You said you didn't want to go to Prouty again because the children
bleated at you the last time you were in."

"But that was long ago--a year--they wouldn't do that now--they're
older, and, besides, there are others who have sheep. We're not the only
ones any more. Bu