was expecting you," he said, retaining life hold on her hand.

"That was very kind," Ophelia murmured. "I am sure we are delighted to
be here."

"Now I guess we are all acquainted," Carolyn June said with a little
laugh. "It's easy for folks to get acquainted, isn't it?" turning
suddenly to Skinny.

"Seems like it after they once get started," Skinny answered.

"We'd better be heading for home I reckon," Old Heck said, releasing at
last the widow's hand and lifting the bags in the car. "Sing Pete will
have dinner ready by the time we get there."

"We have some trunks," Carolyn June said, "can we take them with us?"

"Yes," Old Heck replied, "get in, and we'll drive over to the depot and
get them."

With Carolyn June and Ophelia in the rear seat and Skinny and himself in
the front Old Heck drove the car across to the station and the trunks
were fastened with ropes on the hood of the engine and running-boards of
the car.

As they started away Carolyn June asked:

"Which way now, Uncle Josiah?"

"Out to the ranch."

"Hadn't we better stop at the drug store," she asked soberly, "and get
some medicine?"

"Medicine? Who for?" Old Heck inquired innocently.

"Why, the patients, of course," Carolyn June answered with a
mischievous chuckle.

"What patients?"

"Out at the Quarter Circle KT where that epidemic of smallpox is
raging!" she answered sweetly.

"That's all a mistake," Old Heck said hastily; "we thought is was
smallpox but it wasn't--"

"No, everybody's got over it," Skinny added nervously; "they're all
cured!"

"Yes, they was just broke out with the heat and didn't have the smallpox
at all--" Old Heck explained.

"Liars, both of them," Carolyn June said laughingly to Ophelia; "they
just didn't want us to come!"

"Very likely," Ophelia answered.

"No, honest, we thought we had it," Old Heck stammered.

"We were plumb uneasy for fear you wouldn't arrive," Skinny declared.
"After we found out it wasn't smallpox we were going to send a special
delivery message and tell you it was all a misunderstanding and to come
anyhow!"

"Shall we forgive them?" Carolyn June asked the widow.

"Perhaps, this time--their first offense!"

"I'll tell you," Carolyn June said, "well suspend sentence pending good
behavior!"

Skinny leaned close to Old Heck.

"Stop a minute at the Golden Rule," he whispered; "I want to do some
personal trading."

"If it ain't important," Old Heck answered, "we oughtn't to