up to our bunk. He's
itchin' fer cards. So we says shore. Blud's goin' to sit in. Now you
come an' make it five-handed."

"Wouldn't young Belllounds object to me?"

"What? Buster Jack shy at gamblin' with you? Not much. He's a born
gambler. He'd bet with his grandmother an' he'd cheat the coppers off a
dead nigger's eyes."

"Slick with cards, eh?" inquired Wade.

"Naw, Jack's not slick. But he tries to be. An' we jest go him one
slicker."

"Wouldn't Old Bill object to this card-playin'?"

"He'd be ory-eyed. But, by Golly! we're not leadin' Jack astray. An' we
ain't hankerin' to play with him. All the same a little game is
welcome enough."

"I'll come over," replied Wade, and thoughtfully turned away.

When he presented himself at the ranch-house it was Columbine who let
him in. She was prettily dressed, in a way he had never seen her before,
and his heart throbbed. Her smile, her voice added to her nameless
charm, that seemed to come from the past. Her look was eager and
longing, as if his presence might bring something welcome to her.

Then the rancher stalked in. "Hullo, Wade! Supper's 'most ready. What's
this trouble you had with Jack? He says he won't eat with you."

"I was offerin' him advice," replied Wade.

"What on?"

"Reckon on general principles."

"Humph! Wal, he told me you harangued him till you was black in the
face, an'--"

"Jack had it wrong. He got black in the face," interrupted Wade.

"Did you say he was a spoiled boy an' thet he was no good an' was
headin' plumb fer hell?"

"That was a little of what I said," returned Wade, gently.

"Ahuh! How'd thet come about?" queried Belllounds, gruffly. A slight
stiffening and darkening overcast his face.

Wade then recalled and recounted the remarks that had passed between him
and Jack; and he did not think he missed them very far. He had a great
curiosity to see how Belllounds would take them, and especially the
young man's scornful rejection of a sincerely offered friendship. All
the time Wade was talking he was aware of Columbine watching him, and
when he finished it was sweet to look at her.

"Wade, wasn't you takin' a lot on yourself?" queried the rancher,
plainly displeased.

"Reckon I was. But my conscience is beholden to no man. If Jack had met
me half-way that would have been better for him. An' for me, because I
get good out of helpin' any one."

His reply silenced Belllounds. No more was said before supper was
announced,