istic gentleness. "You are the
first lady I have had the pleasure of meeting here, and your favor is an
auspicious omen." He pressed his lips to the grimy fingers.

The child smiled softly. "Youse may tiss my face if you wants."

It is worthy of note that the cowboy watching him saw nothing
incongruous in the flush of color that suffused this tenderfoot's face
as he availed himself of the ingenuous permission. "Another critter in
your brand, Yulie," he thought, "and this one's a thoroughbred!"

They adjourned to the shady side of the veranda and Carter, proffering
his cigar case, said without preamble: "You are a college man, Mr.
Douglass?" Ken, puffing at the excellent Havana, nodded affirmation.

"Yale '82."

"Princeton '86 myself," said Carter, and after the fashion of hereditary
rivals the world over, they solemnly shook hands again. For awhile they
smoked in silence, then Carter turned abruptly. "Will you manage the C
Bar for me?"

Douglass puffed meditatively for a moment. A thunderbolt from the clear
blue above would have surprised him less, but no stoic ever bore a face
more immobile than that which he turned toward the owner of the biggest
ranch on the Western Slope.

"How about Matlock?"

"He left this morning," said Carter grimly. "See here, Douglass, all I
have in this world is invested in the ranch. My family--I have a mother
and sister--has no other source of income. The outfit is badly run down
and I find it to be in bad flavor with everybody in this section."

Douglass looked at him in surprise. "Why, I thought--"

"So did I," said Carter sententiously, "but I was wrong. I haven't had
time to investigate the leak, but about half my fortune has seeped
through it and it's got to be stopped. I want a capable man, whom I can
trust, to take full charge and put it back on its feet. Will you take
the job?"

Ken looked at him with a new understanding; this was a different man
from the white-lipped one who had writhed so uncomfortably beside him
the night before. There was no indecision in the tense, vibrant voice,
and the almost effeminately delicate features were strong with a great
determination. The cowboy was suddenly filled with a conviction that Tin
Cup had underweighed this tenderfoot.

"Do I get a free hand?" he asked. "I can only work my own way."

Carter nodded shortly. "The actual work will be yours absolutely but I
will take care of the outside business end. I have a knack that way--an