, mebby, is
important--from that doctor, or that lawyer, mebby. Oh, mebby it's from
the bank. Sakes alive! To think of that man leaving you all that money!
Mebby that bank has failed!"

"Well, I'd be right where I started when I first come
here--broke--lookin' for a job."

"And the boys'll worry you most to death if you try to read any letters
in the bunk-house to-night. They're waitin' to hear you talk."

"Guess the letter can wait. I ain't such a fast reader, anyhow."

"And you're like to lose it, carryin' it round."

"I--I--reckon I better read it," stammered Pete helplessly.

He felt somehow that Ma would feel slighted if he didn't. Ma Bailey
watched his face as he read the rather brief note from Doris, thanking
him for his letter to her and congratulating him on the outcome of his
trial, and assuring him of her confidence in his ultimate success in
life. "Little Ruth," wrote Doris, "cried bitterly when I told her that
you had gone and would not come back. She said that when you said
'good-bye' to her you promised to come back--and of course I had to tell
her that you would, just to make her happy. She has lost all interest in
the puzzle game since you left, but that queer watch that you gave her,
that has to be shaken before taken--and then not taken seriously--amuses
her quite a bit. She gets me to wind it up--her fingers are not strong
enough--and then she laughs as the hands race around. When they stop she
puts her finger on the hour and says, 'Pitty soon Pete come back.'
Little Ruth misses you very much."

Pete folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "From a friend of
mine," he said, flushing slightly.

Ma Bailey sighed, smiled, and sighed again. "You're just itching to go
see the boys. Well, run along, and tell Jim not to set up all night." Ma
Bailey rose, and stepping to the bedroom returned with some blankets.
"You'll have your old bunk. It's yours just as long as you want to stay,
Pete. And--and I hope that girl in El Paso--is a--a nice--sensible--"

"Why, Ma! What's the matter?--" as Mrs. Bailey blinked and showed
unmistakable signs of emotion.

"Nothing, Pete. I reckon your coming back so sudden and all you been
through, and that letter, kind of upset me. D-does she powder her face,
Pete?"

"Who? You mean Miss Gray? Why, what would she do that for?"

"Does she wear clothes that--that cost lots of money?"

"Great snakes, Ma! I dunno. I never seen her except in the