"Tom, what in the world brought you way down here?" Fred inquired.

"Mr. Fearnot. I came down here to take my old place with you on the
ranch, if you need me."

"All right, Tom, you can have it. You are just the kind of a man that I
do need."

Just then Terry came up and another handshaking took place between the
cowboy and him.

Terry and Tom seemed to be highly pleased at meeting each other.

When Tom learned that Evelyn was down there he exclaimed:

"Good heavens, Mr. Terry, I want to see her, and get down on my knees to
her, for if there ever was an angel on earth, she is that one."

Both Fred and Terry laughed, and the latter informed him that here were
two other young ladies down there from Crabtree.

"Look here, boss," said Tom, "I heard up at Crabtree that four cattle
thieves had been strung up down here yesterday. Is that so?"

"Yes, Tom; but we had nothing to do with that part of the affair."

The other cowboys were standing at the other end of the porch, and heard
Fred engage the newcomer, and that, too, after refusing to employ any of
them. Their faces showed plainly their disgust, and not to say
dissatisfaction, and the big six-foot fellow went up to Fred and again
applied for employment, saying that he couldn't find a better cowboy in
the whole State than he was, and that he could get references to prove
it.

"See here, my friend," said Fred, "you may be all that you claim, and I
hope that you are: but really I want to be convinced of that fact before
I take you on our force."

"Boss, set me to work at once, and you needn't pay me a cent until after
you learn that I am all that I claim to be."

"No, sir. A man can't work ten minutes for me without pay; so just leave
your address here at the store, and I'll notify you if I want you."

"Why, boss, you have just taken on a new man, and that, too, after
refusing to employ any of those in my party. Do you call that fair
play?"

"Yes, for I know this man personally. He has been in my employ before,
and I was satisfied with his work."

The fellow turned away, growing threateningly and the party went inside
the store, and there held a consultation.

Tom and Fred and Terry went over to the house, where the ladies were,
and Evelyn, as soon as she saw him, recognized him, and exclaimed:

"Why, there's Tom Hecker."

Tom instantly doffed his hat and stood, bowing and smiling, as if highly
pleased at her recognition of him.

"Tom," said she, a