r to be reckoned
with in the Concho Valley.

"Peace?" she queried, smiling, as she rode up.

"Why not, Nell?"

"Oh, cattle and sheep, I suppose. There's no other reason, is there?"

Corliss was silent, thinking of his brother Will.

"Unless--Will--" she said, reading his thought.

He shook his head, "That would be no reason for--for our quarreling,
would it?"

She laughed. "Why, who has quarreled? I'm sure I haven't."

"But you don't seem the same--since Will left."

"Neither do you, John. You haven't called at the rancho for--well,
about a year."

"And then I was told to stay away even longer than that."

"Oh, you mustn't mind Dad. He growls--but he won't bite."

Corliss glanced up at her. His steady gray eyes were smiling, but his
lips were grave. "Would it make any difference if I did come?"

The girl's dark face flushed and her eyes sparkled. "Lots! Perhaps
you and Dad could agree to stop growling altogether. But we won't talk
about it. I'd like to know what you are doing up here afoot?"

"Wouldn't tell you for a dollar," he replied, smiling. "My horse is
over there--near the timber. The rest of the band are at the
waterhole."

"Oh, but you will tell me!" she said. "And before we get back to the
canon."

"I wasn't headed that way--" he began; but she interrupted quickly.

"Of course. I'm not, either." Then she glanced at him with mischief
scintillating in her dark eyes. "Fernando told me you were talking
with him this morning. I don't see that it has done you much good."

His perplexity was apparent in his silence.

"Fernando is--is polite," she asserted, wheeling her horse.

Corliss stood gazing at her unsmilingly. "I want to be," he said
presently.

"Oh, John! I--you always take things so seriously. I was just
'joshing' you, as Fernando says. Of course you do! Won't you shake
hands?"

He strode forward. The girl drew off her gauntlet and extended her
hand. "Let's begin over again," she said as he shook hands with her.
"We've both been acting."

Before she was aware of his intent, he bowed his head and kissed her
fingers. She drew her hand away with a little cry of surprise. She
was pleased, yet he mistook her expression.

He flushed and, confused, drew back. "I--I didn't mean it," he said,
as though apologizing for his gallantry.

The girl's eyes dilated for an instant. Then she laughed with all the
joyous _abandon_ of youth and absolute health. "You g