"Yes, why don't you,
Charley?" he asked with a grin that made his face look bright.

Charley laughed. "If it will make you look human, like that," she
exclaimed, "I will call you anything you wish, Roger dear!"

Roger's grin faded to an expression that was curiously tense. Dick, who
had been giving only half attention to this exchange, now said: "Rabbit
Tail won't trust you. He's had too many dealings with the whites, poor
devil. We'll have to break a trail to the mine and use our team. Just
let me get that alfalfa in again, Roger, and I'll help you out."

"I can pay you up in days' work as far as the use of your time and team
go," said Roger. "What I'll always be in your debt for is the advice
and backing you give me."

Dick grunted. "I'm glad my four years' hell down here is of value to
some one. I'll let you know when I've finished re-seeding."

"I want to help on that," insisted Roger. "Our international debt is
getting too one-sided."

"Well, I'll be mighty grateful to you," sighed Dick. "I'll take your
help on the re-seeding, but I'll be still more appreciative if you'll
take a look at my gasoline engine to-morrow morning. I've spun that fly
wheel until my hope of salvation's gone. And I've got to wet that field
down."

"I'll get at it now," said Roger.

With Felicia trailing at his heels, Roger made his way to the shed
beside the spring. The engine and pump were both old. Roger tinkered for
a half hour, Felicia standing by to hand him the wrench or the oil can
on demand.

"Do you love me, Roger?" the child asked, as Roger tugged at a rusty oil
cup screw.

"I certainly do. Do you love me?"

"Yes. Do you love Charley?"

"Well, I'm fond of Charley. I've known her a long time, you know."

"But you aren't fonder of her than you are of me?" insisted Felicia.

"Certainly not! You're my best sweetheart. Now the oil can, Felicia."

The little girl stared at Roger, with speculative eyes. "Charley says
you're very interesting. What is an interesting man, Roger?"

"One who knows how to start a gas engine, chicken," exclaimed Charley,
coming into the shed. "Mercy, Felicia, are you always as personal as
this?"

"Felicia is nothing if not feminine." Roger tugged at the fly wheel and
grinned at Charley who made a little grimace.

"Roger likes it!" exclaimed Felicia. "He belongs to me, Charley. He
likes me bettern you, he says so."

"Well, it is like this, Charley--" began Roger elaborately.

Charley cu