l the
investigations and decide what is best to do without any interference
from me."

Jack arched her level brows, dilated her nostrils and half closed her
eyes. Jean knew that particular obstinate expression of her cousin's
and said nothing more for a few moments, but put on her own coat and hat
and started to leave the room. At the door she turned to her cousin.
"Jacqueline Ralston," she inquired coolly, "has it ever occurred to you,
that you are a very hard-headed and selfish person?"

Jack's grey eyes grew steely. "Oh, do go on, Jean dear," she urged
politely. "Tell me any other nice things you know about me; one always
is appreciated by one's relatives."

Jean flushed. "Don't be so hateful, Jack," she pleaded. "Can't you see
that it is selfish of you to refuse to go with us to try to find out
about Olilie? You brought her home to the ranch, and you know you will
be able to stand up for her and find out more about her than either Aunt
Sallie or I can. Aunt Sallie means well, but goodness knows she isn't
tactful. And you know you are obstinate to stay at home simply because
Frank Kent is to go with us. Aunt Sallie did not know what you had said
to him, and simply wanted to show him one of our modern Indian
settlements. It is one of the things he came West to see."

"Oh, I don't blame Aunt Sallie," Jack replied, slightly appeased by
Jean's half-hearted apology.

"Well, you needn't blame Frank Kent, either," Jean retorted quickly.
"You can put every bit of the blame on me. Frank Kent told Aunt Sallie
that he did not think he would care to go with us and behaved so queer
and stiffish that she was offended with him. I knew he was thinking
about what you had said, so I just marched up to him and told him that
if he had refused Mrs. Simpson's invitation because he thought you would
not wish him to come along with us, he was entirely mistaken. You see I
thought you would not want him to give up the pleasure of the trip, just
on your account. He is a guest here with us and I can see no sense in
your being so uppish. It is perfectly foolish, Jack." This time Jean
opened the door. "Jacqueline Ralston, c-h-u-m-p spells chump. It is
exactly what you are."

Jack's bad tempers had a way of ending abruptly. "Wait a minute, please,
Jean," she called persuasively, "I expect you are right. I will come
along."

Jean gave Jack a hug as they went out of the room together, which was
intended to convey the idea that, though what