nd I did say she was
beautiful and adorable--and she is--and I said I was going to invite her
to come and make me a long visit--and I _did_ invite her--before she
left the room in a huff--and went tearing off into the bad lands to find
her lover----"

Janet smothered the rest of the sentence in kisses: "Well, anyway--you
didn't make her marry him," she said, "because she intended to marry him
anyway--if she could get him to ask her!"

A couple of hours later while the three women were in the cabin
preparing supper, Tex, and Endicott, and Cinnabar sat outside and talked
and listened to the sounds of laughter that floated through the door.

"Look at old Whiskers comin'," said Tex, indicating a horseman who
appeared around the corner of the barn.

Cinnabar chuckled: "Whiskers! Why man, that's yer new dad! That's old
Colin McWhorter--an' if you don't make a hit with him, believe me--he'll
cut your head off!"

The huge Scotchman dismounted, nodded and addressed Cinnabar Joe: "Ha'
ye seen my daughter?" Before Cinnabar could answer the girl herself
rushed from the door and threw herself into the big man's arms: "Theer,
theer, wee lass, ha' they hurt ye? Ye're face is red like the fire-weed!
I'll----"

"No! No! Dad! I'm--so happy! I'm--I'm going to be married tomorrow! I
want you to meet my--Mr. Benton--Tex! And, oh Dad--you'll just love him!
I knew it was all a mistake--about that horrid hand-bill--here are Mr.
and Mrs. Endicott--they know him well--and Cinnabar and his wife have
known him for years."

McWhorter stood glaring at Tex who returned him look for look. "Was it
for thot I looked after her a' her life--educated her--thot she sh'ud
marry a common cowpuncher!"

The Texan stepped directly before him and reaching up a finger tapped
the irate man's breast: "Look here, old timer. I'm a common cowpuncher,
just as you say--but, at that, I don't take off my hat to any sheep-man!
You an' I are goin' to be big friends, once we get strung out. I like
you already. I've got you sized up for one of the biggest hearted old
specimens on the range. But, at that, you like to get your growl in--an'
get it in first. Well--you've growled--an' you haven't fooled no
one--nor scairt no one. If you want a little further dope on me here
goes. I'm from Texas--come from good enough folks down there so they
haven't been able to beat the Old Man for Congress in twenty years. I've
be'n somethin' of a black sheep--but the black's wearin' o