how he got mine, gol darn it!" Uncle Henry cried. Hardy glared at
him, seemed to smite him with his eyes.

"I'm not in business for my health," he said coldly.

"Nor for anybody else's," Uncle Henry, unabashed, told him.

Angela feared there was going to be trouble. "Now, daddy, you mustn't--you
really mustn't--I feel--"

But her father did not hear her.

"The time's up at eight o'clock," was all he said, and looked sternly at
Gilbert, much as a judge who is pronouncing sentence looks at the prisoner
at the bar.

"I know it," said Gilbert.

"Now, daddy--" Angela began again.

Hardy was angry at her repeated solicitation. "Will you let me alone? This
is my business," he said to her in a firm voice, "Remember that, and don't
attempt to put your finger in the pie. This is my business, I tell you."

"Yes, I know daddy; but you needn't be so mean about it."

"I'm a plain man, and I don't believe in beating about the bush. Get that
through your head--every one of you, I mean."

"But you might at least be--" his daughter began once more.

"Won't you please keep still?" His rage was mounting; and his brow
darkened.

"I only want you to be nice about it, daddy," Angela persisted, sweetly.

"How can anybody be nice about a thing like this?" said the man of iron.

"I know I could be," Angela informed him.

Her father looked at her. "Well, what would you do?"

"Give him his ranch back, of course!"

Jasper Hardy couldn't believe what he had heard, and from his own child.
"Well, for the love of heaven!" he cried, and almost burst out laughing.

"We've more ranches now than we know what to do with. Everybody is aware of
that."

Here was Uncle Henry's chance. "That's the idea!" he cried. "What do you
want it for, anyhow?" But no one paid any attention to him.

"Oh, will you, daddy--for my sake?" Angela pleaded.

Hardy was adamant. "Certainly not! What a stupid request. How did such
ideas come into your head?"

"But I don't see why--" the unremitting Angela started to say.

Her father was furious now, and tired of her prattle. He turned to "Red."
"Take her out doors, will you?" as though she were a child.

"Red's" face gleamed as if a lantern had been lighted behind it. He turned
eagerly to Angela. "_Will_ I!" he cried.

But Angela was scornful. How foolish of "Red" to think her father could
dismiss her in this way! She proceeded as though no such suggestion had
been made, and addressed her father once mor