nd passed the flapjacks. He insisted that she
try one at least.

"So he told you about his mother. And maybe about his house?"

"He did n't tell me much about his house--just about his mother. He
showed me the clipping about her. He did n't tell me anything in
particular about her."

"Well, that's all the same. Just the same as if he told you."

Janet sampled the pancake and complimented him upon his cooking, in
return for which he told her his recipe, which could be varied with
water "according to taste." There came a pause in which Mr. Hicks
seemed to be thinking.

"Can you play the piano?" he asked.

"I can play some," answered Janet. "But I am a little out of practice
lately."

"You 'd soon enough pick that up, as long as you know how."

The first lot of pancakes having dwindled, he got up and put on the
remainder of the batter.

As Janet declined his offer of more, he insisted that she start on the
pie.

"Are you fond of piano music?" she inquired as he sat down.

"Most any kind suits me. I suppose you can play most any kind of a
tune."

"Yes, mostly. As I say, I am a little out of practice lately. But my
music always comes back to me suddenly after a day or two."

"Steve has a piano," he said.

There came a hiatus in the conversation. Janet applied herself to the
pie.

"Mr. Hicks," she said suddenly, "I should think Mr. Brown would hardly
choose to come out here and do a sheep-herder's work. Especially as I
understand he does n't really have to."

"Well, it would seem that way, looking at it from this end. It's a
little lonesome out here when there is n't anybody around. But down
home there is n't anybody around his house, and that's lonesomer still.
There a person would notice it; but you don't expect anything else of a
shack. I don't suppose he has been on the inside of that house more
than once in two or three weeks."

"And yet he lives there?"

"Oh, yes. Gets along good, too, as far as that goes. He washes the
dishes on the porch and hangs the pan up outside. I guess he borrowed
some of his style from me. Steve would make a pretty good Ranger yet;
he hasn't got spoiled. But his ma told him he must n't ever join them."

"Why," exclaimed Janet, "does _he_ think of joining the Rangers?"

"Oh, no--not now. I don't suppose he ever thinks of such an idea. He
's got too many other things to tend to, anyway."

"Then, why should she tell him that?"

"That was just an