is country who would willingly
dispense with the formality of racing a horse in order to get your
money."

"Yes--I've discovered one informal method already. I wish I knew how I
could help YOU."

"Help me--in what way?" Marian glanced out of the window again as if
that were a habit she had formed.

"I don't know. I wish I did. I thought perhaps you had some trouble
that--My mother had the same look in her eyes when we came back to
the ranch after some Indian trouble, and found the house burned and
everything destroyed but the ground itself. She didn't say anything
much. She just began helping father plan how we'd manage until we could
get material and build another cabin, and make our supplies hold out.
She didn't complain. But her eyes had the same look I've seen in yours,
Mrs. Morris. So I feel as if I ought to help you, just as I'd help
mother." Bud's face had been red and embarrassed when he began, but his
earnestness served to erase his selfconsciousness.

"You're different--just like mother," he went on when Marian did not
answer. "You don't belong here drudging in this kitchen. I never saw a
woman doing a man's work before. They ought to have a man cooking for
all these hulking men."

"Oh, the kitchen!" Marian exclaimed impatiently. "I don't mind the
cooking. That's the least--"

"It isn't right, just the same. I--I don't suppose that's it altogether.
I'm not trying to find out what the trouble is--but I wish you'd
remember that I'm ready to do anything in the world that I can. You
won't misunderstand that, I'm sure."

"No-o," said Marian slowly. "But you see, there's nothing that you can
do--except, perhaps, make things worse for me." Then, to lighten that
statement, she smiled at him. "Just now you can help me very much if you
will go in and play something besides the Blue Danube Waltz. I've had
to listen to that ever since Honora sent away for the music with the
winter's grocery order, last October. Tell Honora you got her some
mushrooms. And don't trust anyone. If you must bet on the horses, do so
with your eyes open. They're cheats--and worse, some of them."

Bud's glance followed hers through the window that overlooked the
corrals and the outbuildings. Lew was coming up to the house with a
slicker over his head to keep off the drizzle.

"Well, remember I'd do anything for you that I'd do for my mother or my
sister Dulcie. And I wish you'd call on me just as they would, if you
get in a pinch and