nearer than Leeson Butte. You can't get
him in less'n two weeks. You can't do the chores yourself, an' that
old--your housekeeper ain't fit to do anything but make hash. Then you
can't let the stock go hungry. Besides all of which you're doing me a
real kindness letting me help you out. Ther's no favor to you. It's
sure to me, an' these creatures which can't do things for themselves.
So it would be a sound proposition to cut that 'but' right out of our
talk an' send word to your lawyer feller in Leeson Butte for a 'hired'
man. An' when he gits around, why--well, you won't be needin' me."

All the time he was speaking his fork was busy clearing the stalls of
their litter, and, at the finish, he leant on the haft of it and
quizzically smiled into the girl's beautiful, half-troubled face.

Joan contemplated protesting, but somehow his manner was so friendly,
so frank and honest, that she felt it would be ungracious of her.
Finally he won the day, and she broke into a little laugh of yielding.

"You talk too--too well for me," she cried. "I oughtn't to accept,"
she added. "I know I oughtn't, but what am I to do? I can't do--these
things." Then she added regretfully: "And I thought it would be all so
simple."

Buck saw her disappointment, and it troubled him. He felt in a measure
responsible, so he hastened to make amends.

"Wal, y' see, men are rough an' strong. They can do the things needed
around a farm. I don't guess women wer' made for--for the rough work
of life. It ain't a thing to feel mean about. It's jest in the nature
of things."

Joan nodded. All the time he was speaking she had been studying him,
watching the play of expression upon his mobile features rather than
paying due attention to his words.

She decided that she liked the look of him. It was not that he
was particularly handsome. He seemed so strong, and yet so--so
unconcerned. She wondered if that were only his manner. She knew that
often volcanic natures, reckless, were hidden under a perfect calm.
She wondered if it were so in his case. His eyes were so full of a
brilliant dark light. Yes, surely this man roused might be an
interesting personality. She remembered him last night. She remembered
the strange, superheated fire in those same eyes when he had hurled
the gold at her feet. Yes, she felt sure a tremendous force lay behind
his calmness of manner.

The man's thoughts were far less analytical. His was not the nature to
search the psycho