orse undertook
the office before the wagon had well come to a standstill. "Good friends
of mine, and gentlemen, both," said he to Miss Peck; and to us, "A lady
whose acquaintance will prove a treat to our section."

We all bowed at each other beneath the florid expanse of these
recommendations, and I was proceeding to murmur something about its
being a long journey and a fine day when Miss Peck cut me short, gaily:

"Well," she exclaimed to Tommy, "I guess I'm pretty near ready for them
eggs you've spoke so much about."

I have not often seen Mr. McLean lose his presence of mind. He needed
merely to exclaim, "Why, Tommy, you told me your hens had not been
laying since Christmas!" and we could have sat quiet and let Tommy
try to find all the eggs that he could. But the new girl was a sore
embarrassment to the cow-puncher's wits. Poor Lin stood by the wheels
of the wagon. He looked up at Miss Peck, he looked over at Tommy, his
features assumed a rueful expression, and he wretchedly blurted,

"Why, Tommy, I've been and eat 'em."

"Well, if that ain't!" cried Miss Peck. She stared with interest at Lin
as he now assisted her to descend.

"All?" faltered Tommy. "Not the four nests?"

"I've had three meals, yu' know," Lin reminded him, deprecatingly.

"I helped him," said I. "Ten innocent, fresh eggs. But we have left some
ham. Forgive us, please."

"I declare!" said Miss Peck, abruptly, and rolled her sluggish, inviting
eyes upon me. "You're a case, too, I expect."

But she took only brief note of me, although it was from head to foot.
In her stare the dull shine of familiarity grew vacant, and she turned
back to Lin McLean. "You carry that," said she, and gave the pleased
cow-puncher a hand valise.

"I'll look after your things, Miss Peck," called Tommy, now springing
down from his horse. The egg tragedy had momentarily stunned him.

"You'll attend to the mail first, Mr. Postmaster!" said the lady,
but favoring him with a look from her large eyes. "There's plenty of
gentlemen here." With that her glance favored Lin. She went into the
cabin, he following her close, with the Taylors and myself in the rear.
"Well, I guess I'm about collapsed!" said she, vigorously, and sank upon
one of Tommy's chairs.

The fragile article fell into sticks beneath her, and Lin leaped to her
assistance. He placed her upon a firmer foundation. Mrs. Taylor brought
a basin and towel to bathe the dust from her face, Mr. Taylor produced