Nan were on the veranda. Bud's attitude was one of almost shy
reserve. Nan was smiling a welcome such as a moment before would have
seemed quite impossible. But her schooling had finally triumphed in
the crisis, and her loyalty to her generous love had vanquished every
baser feeling. It was her hands which clasped those of the city woman
before she sprang lightly from the saddle. It was her steady voice
spoke the first words of welcome.

"Say, you sure must be tired with your journey," she said. "Come right
in to--your new home."

Bud had averted his eyes the moment she began to speak. He could not
witness that greeting. His courage was unequal to it. Instead he
greeted Jeff in his own fashion, as though nothing unusual had occurred.

"Nan's got everything through for you same as you asked. After you've
eaten, why, I guess we'll need to make some talk. Things have been
moving, boy. Guess we'll need to get busy."

Nan had taken Elvine into the house, and one of the barn-hands was
waiting to take the horses. Jeff leaped from the saddle. Once in the
company of his partner, with all the atmosphere of the world to which
he belonged about him, all the excitement of his home-coming seemed to
drop from him. He even seemed to have forgotten that this was the
final great event of his new life--the bringing of his bride to the
home he had prepared for her. But Nan's estimate of him was right.
Jeff's was a nature that could not be changed, even by his marriage.
His love, his marriage, Elvine; these things were, in reality, merely
episodes. Delightful episodes. Before all things his work claimed him.

"You mean the--rustlers?"

The two men were facing each other on the wide veranda. The trailing
wild cucumber vines tempered the blaze of sunlight and left the
atmosphere of the veranda cool. Jeff mopped the beads of perspiration
from his forehead under his wide hat, which had been thrust back on his
head.

"That's so." Bud's eyes were following the horses as they moved away
in the wake of the barn-hand.

"It's pretty bad?"

"An' gettin' worse."

Bud's eyes came back to his partner's face. They gazed steadily into
it.

"Can't you tell me--now? Evie's in there with Nan," he added
significantly.

Bud shook his head.

"It's a big yarn, an' needs time. But----" He paused, searching the
other's face.

"Go right on."

Jeff read through the pause. He waited, his lips firmly set.

Bud cleared hi