t girl when he
brings her there to run over Marthy!"

"Well, what of it? You don't expect him to put in his time for
nothing, do you? In the last analysis we're all self-centered brutes,
Wilhemina. We're thinking once for the other fellow and twice for
ourselves, always. I'm working and scheming day and night to get a
stake--so I can have what means happiness to me. Marthy's letting Foxy
have full swing in the Cove, because that gives her an easier life than
she's ever had. If she didn't want him there, she'd mighty quick shoo
him up the gorge, or I don't know the old lady. We're all selfish."

"I think it's a horrid world!" rebelled the youthful ideals of Billy
Louise. "I wish you wouldn't say you're just thinking of yourself--"

"I'm human," he pointed out. "I want my happiness. So do you, for
that matter. We all want to get all we can out of life."

"And at the other fellow's expense!"

"Oh, not necessarily. Some of us want the other fellow to be just as
happy as we are." His look pointed the meaning for him.

"I don't care; I think it's mean of Charlie Fox to bring--"

"Maybe not. The chances are the young lady will take to housework like
a bear-cub to a syrup keg, and old Marthy will potter around with her
flowers and be perfectly happy with the two of them. Cheer up, Bill
Loo! Lemme have a smile, anyway, before I go. And I wish," he added
quizzically, "you'd spare me some of that sympathy you've got going to
waste. I'm a poor lonesome devil working away to get a stake, and you
know why. I don't have nobody to give me a kind word, and I don't have
no fun nor nothing, nohow. Come on and ride a mile or two!"

"I have to help mommie," said Billy Louise, which was not true.

"Well, if you won't, darn it, don't!" Ward reached down, caught her
hand, and squeezed it, taking a chance on being seen. "Gotta go,
Wilhemina-mine. Adios. I won't stay away so long next time." He
turned away to his horse, stuck his foot in the stirrup; and went up
into the saddle without any apparent effort. Then he swung Rattler
close to where she stood beside the gate.

"Sure you want to be just pals, Wilhemina-mine?" he asked, bending
close to her.

"Of course I'm sure," said Billy Louise quickly--a shade too quickly.

Ward looked at her intently and shrugged his shoulders. "All right,"
he said, in the tone which made plain his opinion of her decision.
"You're the doctor."

Billy Louise watched him up t