.

"No, sir! The way I look at it, a fellow's got to take some risk. Now,
y'u cayn't tell some things. I figure I ain't half so likely to catch
pneumony as y'u would be to get heart trouble if y'u went walking with
Miss Nora," returned Denver.

A perfect gravity sat on both their faces during the progress of most of
their repartee.

"If your throat's so bad, Mr. Halliday, I'll put a kerosene rag round
it for you when we get back," Nora said, with a sweet little glance of
sympathy that the foreman did not enjoy.

Denver, otherwise "Mr. Halliday," beamed. "Y'u're real kind, ma'am.
I'll bet that will help it on the outside much as Mac's medicine will
inside."

"What'll y'u do for my heart, ma'am, if it gits bad the way Denver
figures it will?"

"Y'u might try a mustard plaster," she gurgled, with laughter.

For once the debonair foreman's ready tongue had brought him to defeat.
He was about to retire from the field temporarily when Nora herself
offered first aid to the wounded.

"We would like to have you come along with us, Mr. McWilliams. I want
you to come if you can spare the time."

The soft eyes telegraphed an invitation with such a subtle suggestion of
a private understanding that Mac was instantly encouraged to accept.

He knew, of course, that she was playing them against each other and
sitting back to enjoy the result, but he was possessed of the hope
common to youths in his case that he really was on a better footing with
her than the other boys. This opinion, it may be added, was shared by
Denver, Frisco and even Reddy as regards themselves. Which is merely
another way of putting the regrettable fact that this very charming
young woman was given to coquetting with the hearts of her admirers.

"Any time y'u get oneasy about that cough y'u go right on home, Denver.
Don't stay jest out of politeness. We'll never miss y'u, anyhow," the
foreman assured him.

"Thank y'u, Mac. But y'u see I got to stay to keep Miss Nora from
getting bored."

"Was it a phrenologist strung y'u with the notion y'u was a cure for
lonesomeness?"

"Shucks! I don't make no such claims. The only thing is it's a comfort
when you're bored to have company. Miss Nora, she's so polite. But, y'u
see, if I'm along I can take y'u for a walk when y'u get too bad."

They reached the little trail that ran up to Lee Ming's place, and
Denver suggested that Mac run in with the bundle so as to save Nora the
climb.

"I'd like to, honest