s hour for a drive, and you were
interfering with one of her duties. I think she treated you very well."

"Anyhow, she's coming, and so is Helen. It tickled Helen nearly into
fits, of course, and she's coming--just to see me 'put to it to manage
these wet valley bronchos.'"

"The girl may look like a bronk, but she's got good blood in her. She'll
hold her own anywhere," replied Congdon, with conviction.

CHAPTER IX

BERTHA MEETS BEN FORDYCE

For all her impassivity, Bertha was really elated by this invitation,
for she liked Congdon, and had a very high opinion of his powers. She
experienced no special dread of the dinner, for it appeared to her at
the moment to be a simple sitting down to eat with some friendly people.
She was not in awe of Mrs. Congdon, however much she might admire her
husband's skill, and she knew their home. It was a small house on a side
street, and did not compare for a moment with her own establishment, in
which she had begun to take a settled pride.

As they rode away she was mentally casting up in her mind a choice of
clothes, when Haney remarked: "Bertie, I don't believe I'll go to that
dinner."

"Why not?"

"Well, I'm not as handy with a cold deck as I used to be, and I don't
think I ought to put me lame foot into another man's lap."

"You're all right, Captain, and, besides, I'll be close by to help out
in case you run up against a hard knock in the steak. Course you'll
go--I want you to get out and see the people. Why, you haven't taken a
meal out of the house since we moved, except that one at the Casino. You
need more doin'."

Haney was in a dejected mood. "So do you. I'm a heavy handicap to you,
Bertie, sure I am. As I see ye settin' there bloomin' as a rose and feel
me own age a-creepin' on me, I know I should be takin' me _conge_ out of
self-respect--just to give you open road."

"Stop that!" she warningly cried. "Hello, there's Ed! He seems in a
rush. Wonder what's eating him?"

Winchell, dressed in a new suit of clothes, darted from the sidewalk to
the carriage, his face shining. "Say, folks, I'm called East. Old man
died yesterday, and I've got to go home." He was breathing hard with
excitement.

"Get in and tell us about it," commanded Bertha.

He climbed up beside the driver, and turned on his seat to continue.
"Yes, I've got to go; and, say, the old man was well off. I don't do no
more barberin', I tell you that. I'm goin' to study law. I'm comin' back