ghter the following morning. "I just want to make sure them boys is hittin' the hig

other looked up sharply. She wondered if the prospect of anothe

she remonstrated gently. "Men like Mr. Transley a

thers are to a hat-they give it distinction, c

e dressed entirely in feather

king a firm kiss on her forehead. "That was a solar plexus. Now I'll try to be good

. So many of these ornery good-for-nothin's is always wishin' they was boss, but they ain't

rs," the girl agreed. "Ho

d. "We can throw in a tent and some bedding for y

I can surely rustle a blanket or two around the camp. Be

her father. "You're gettin' too big to go

wing up," Zen sighed. "All

zest to the prospect. Transley was interesting. At least he was out of the commonplace. His bold directness had rather fascinated her. He had a will. Her father had always admired men with a will, and Zen shared his admiration. Then there was Linder. The fierce light of Transley's charms did

, always sure of justifying herself and discomfiting someone by the swift, strong strokes with which, at the right moment, she reached the shore. Zen liked to think of herself as careering through life in the same way as she rode the half-broken horses of her father's range. How many such a horse had thought that the lithe body on his back wa

uiet confidence that in any pinch she could take care of herself. She had learned to ride and shoot, to sleep out and cook in the open, to ride the ranges a

so skilful, so strong, but some outlaw would throw him at last. So at fourteen they sent her east to a boarding-school. In

more, Mother," she said. "Th

out time you was halter-broke," he c

and think, what more can the sc

ving been to schoo

wung down the foothill slopes to the camp on the South Y.D. Strings of men and horse

measured the sca

s," he said, approvingly. "Tha

de no

um-dinger," her

e. Y.D. was no puzzle to her, and if he went out

e made a hit with you, Dad

horse that can get there. I've often wondered, Zen, what kind you'd take up with, when it came to that, an'

Linder?" said

harply. "Zen," he said

d, in your talk about Transley. You're just feeling out

is. If he was, he wouldn't be workin' for Transley. You can't keep a man down, Zen, if he's got the

had asked none since, and had made of himself a big success-it was natural that such a man should judge all others by their material achievements. The only quality Y.D. took off his hat to was the ability to do things. And Y.

eting them as th

as he helped them from the democrat, and gave instructions for the care of

lew," he said. "You got a good spot here for a camp, Transley. But we won't go in to supper just now. L

ident his mind was divided. He was glancing

I allow myself the luxury of a private tent, and as you will

d Zen. "If you will let the men pitch it under the tre

t in the meantime take my tent. I'll get water, and there's a basin." He already was leading the way. "Ma

dy calls

was no sunlight to play on her hair, but her face and figure in the mellow dusk seemed entirely winsome and adorable. There was no ta

-wagon she passed close to George Drazk. It was evident that he had chosen a st

ow's that Pete-h

ll the time, Ze

ut she had no come-back. She had given

hen he came back to hunt for a horse blanket which had

now heavy in the valley, candles had been lighted. Y.D. and his daughter sat on one side, Transley on the other. In a momen

l, rising and extending her hand across the table

ld think of nothing in particular to say. "We'

with double meaning, Transley would have returned. It was evident that, as her father had said, Linder was second best.

different makes of mowing machines. When it was finished Transley apologized fo

ble thing in careful hands, but mighty dangerous when everybody gets

ght, but we're taki

ecautions for other people. Has anybody

foreman, I think, for Landson, down the valley, rode over last night, and invited us not to cut any hay hereabo

d you te

for Y.D., and then asked

stay?" Z

he came. And this morning we went out on the job

ansley could not prevent a flush of pleasure at her compliment.

' if he keeps calm perhaps we'll let him have what he has cut, but if he don't-" Y.D.'s face hardened with the set of a man accustome

d down by the water, Zen, so that its murmurs may sing you to sleep. You see, I have some of the poetic in me, too. Mr. Linder

n threw its light from a tent by the river. Zen walked by

" said Linder. "I s

thinks that anything that's worth having in this world is worth going afte

nfessed, "but I've always been sh

I can well believe that no man could frighten you. Consequently

of women," he replied. "It has always seeme

no sign of going in. In the silence the sibi

th, "do you know why Mr. Trans

, except to show

n't afraid of you. Mr. Transley is a very self-confident individual. There is such a thing as being too self-confident, Mr. L

was in a whirl with a sensation entirely strange to it. A light wind, laden with snow-smell from the mountains

d. "Who'd have th