d the house.

In these isolated mountain ranches, almost every intelligent man can set
broken bones, and take care of minor troubles; a doctor living in a town
ten to twenty miles away, needs plenty of time to reach a ranch, in
cases of illness, and during that time a patient must suffer agonies or
be helped by home-aid. Thus, Mr. Ratzger had his bones set by Mr.
Brewster and his assistants, and was left neatly bandaged upon a cot in
the harness-room. But the other patient seemed past the simple aid from
the ranchers, so Jeb had to ride to Oak Creek for a doctor to come and
try to save this life.

With all the sudden advent of excitement and work, the thought of Anne's
engagement ring had not entered into any one's mind, but once the
household had quieted down again, and Mr. Brewster could sit on the
porch and mop his weary brow, John smiled knowingly at his fiancee.

Mrs. Brewster caught the look and interpreted it instantly: "Oh, Anne,
dear! We never asked you to show us the symbol!"

"Yes, yes, Anne! Let me look!" cried Eleanor, jumping up from the grass
where Polly and she had thrown themselves.

Anne, with an embarrassed laugh, held forth her left hand and displayed
a beautiful solitaire. "Ahhs!" and "Ohs" and other exclamations of
admiration pleased John and Anne mightly, and both felt that this
mundane life was really a Paradise.

With one accord it had been agreed to postpone the talk of Rainbow
Cliffs and Choko's Find until after supper that evening. By that time
the doctor would have arrived and expressed an opinion about the injured
Riggley, and see if Ratzger was doing nicely under the home-treatment
given him.

"Because it makes me feel rather guilty to talk over our future plans
about this big combination, when we know that not far off are two men so
fearfully injured on account of this very fortune," added Mrs.
Brewster, when she heard the business talk would not take place at once.

"As long as I am here and having such a wonderful rest, I would just as
soon wait for Latimer and Evans to put in an appearance, before we
discuss finances," said Mr. Maynard.

"We'll have enough talk left over to warm up for them," remarked Tom,
whimsically.

"And we want to get you first, Dad, and see how much money you will put
in. When there are too many men about to talk to at once, the force of
our arguments will be scattered," declared Eleanor, nodding her head
wisely.

Every one laughed--the first hearty