e rested and
well.

"Now, Gale," said Belding, when his wife had excused herself to get
supper, "the boys, Jim and Laddy, told me about you and the mix-up at
Casita. I'll be glad to take care of the girl till it's safe for your
soldier friend to get her out of the country. That won't be very soon,
don't mistake me.... I don't want to seem over-curious about you--Laddy
has interested me in you--and straight out I'd like to know what you
propose to do now."

"I haven't any plans," replied Dick; and, taking the moment as
propitious, he decided to speak frankly concerning himself. "I just
drifted down here. My home is in Chicago. When I left school some
years ago--I'm twenty-five now--I went to work for my father. He's--he
has business interests there. I tried all kinds of inside jobs. I
couldn't please my father. I guess I put no real heart in my work.
The fact was I didn't know how to work. The governor and I didn't
exactly quarrel; but he hurt my feelings, and I quit. Six months or
more ago I came West, and have knocked about from Wyoming southwest to
the border. I tried to find congenial work, but nothing came my way.
To tell you frankly, Mr. Belding, I suppose I didn't much care. I
believe, though, that all the time I didn't know what I wanted. I've
learned--well, just lately--"

"What do you want to do?" interposed Belding.

"I want a man's job. I want to do things with my hands. I want
action. I want to be outdoors."

Belding nodded his head as if he understood that, and he began to speak
again, cut something short, then went on, hesitatingly:

"Gale--you could go home again--to the old man--it'd be all right?"

"Mr. Belding, there's nothing shady in my past. The governor would be
glad to have me home. That's the only consolation I've got. But I'm
not going. I'm broke. I won't be a tramp. And it's up to me to do
something."

"How'd you like to be a border ranger?" asked Belding, laying a hand on
Dick's knee. "Part of my job here is United States Inspector of
Immigration. I've got that boundary line to patrol--to keep out Chinks
and Japs. This revolution has added complications, and I'm looking for
smugglers and raiders here any day. You'll not be hired by the U. S.
You'll simply be my ranger, same as Laddy and Jim, who have promised to
work for me. I'll pay you well, give you a room here, furnish
everything down to guns, and the finest horse you ever saw in your
life. Your job won