once more to give Pink's tongs the expert twist he was
trying awkwardly to learn. "I'm sorry for Miguel; he's got lovely eyes,
anyway."

"Yes, ain't he?" Pink looked up briefly from his task. "How's your leg,
Irish? Mine's done."

"Seems to me I'd make a deep border of them corkscrew curls all around
the bottoms, if I was doin' it," said the Countess peevishly, from the
kitchen sink. "If I was that dago I'd murder the hull outfit; I never
did see a body so hectored in my life--and him not ever ketchin' on. He
must be plumb simple-minded."

When the curling was done to the hilarious satisfaction of Irish and
Pink, and, while Pink was dancing in them to show them off, another
entered with mail from town. And, because the mail-bearer was Andy Green
himself, back from a winter's journeyings, Cal, Happy Jack and Slim
followed close behind, talking all at once, in their joy at beholding
the man they loved well and hated occasionally also. Andy delivered the
mail into the hands of the Little Doctor, pinched the Kid's cheek,
and said how he had grown good-looking as his mother, almost, spoke a
cheerful howdy to the Countess, and turned to shake hands with Pink. It
was then that the honest, gray eyes of him widened with amazement.

"Well, by golly!" gasped Slim, goggling at the chaps of Miguel.

"That there Natiff Son'll just about kill yuh for that," warned Happy
Jack, as mournfully as he might with laughing. "He'll knife yuh, sure."

Andy, demanding the meaning of it all, learned all about Miguel
Rapponi--from the viewpoint of the Happy Family. At least, he learned as
much as it was politic to tell in the presence of the Little Doctor; and
afterward, while Pink was putting the chaps back upon the willow, where
Miguel had left them, he was told that they looked to him, Andy Green,
for assistance.

"Oh, gosh! You don't want to depend on me, Pink," Andy expostulated
modestly. "I can't think of anything--and, besides, I've reformed. I
don't know as it's any compliment to me, by gracious--being told soon as
I land that I'm expected to lie to a perfect stranger."

"You come on down to the stable and take a look at his saddle and
bridle," urged Cal. "And wait till you see him smoking and looking past
you, as if you was an ornery little peak that didn't do nothing but
obstruct the scenery. I've seen mean cusses--lots of 'em; and I've seen
men that was stuck on themselves. But I never--"

"Come outa that 'doby," Pink interru