u remember the trip over the mesa, Blaze?
How did you know I wanted to ride to Three Star instead of drive?"

"Took a chance," said Sandy. "Do you?" The old woman-shyness had come
over him, fighting with his knowledge of the child who had changed into
a woman. And the pongee duster deceived him.

"Do I? Didn't I write you I was aching to fork a saddle? Look!"

She unbuttoned the duster with swift fingers and stripped it off,
standing revealed in riding togs of smallest black and white checks,
coat flaring out from the trim waist, slim straight legs in breeches and
riding boots, a white stock about the slender, rounded neck. She gave
one hand to Mormon, the other to Sam, gazing at her in admiration that
was radiant and goggle-eyed.

"You're losing weight, Mormon," she said. "I believe you must be in
love."

"I allus was, with you," gallantried Mormon.

"You stand aside, you human chuckawalla!" said Sam. "Miss Molly, you
sure look good to sore eyes. An' I'm sure happy you're in my debt, if
you ain't grown up too fur to pay yore dues."

"I always pay my debts, Sam. What do you mean?"

"It was me kissed the dawg," said Sam. "I give the animile somethin' I
hadn't received."

Molly laughed at him reassuringly. Sandy, looking down at her, saw her
eyes crinkle at the corners in the old way. Keith and his son joined
them, coming from the car, the Amenable Nicholson hovering behind
ingratiatingly.

"Glad to see you, Bourke," he said. "And you, Manning. You too, Peters.
Meet my son, Donald."

The three partners shook hands gravely with the boy, appraising him
without his guessing it.

"Glad to see you out west," said Mormon. "We'd sure admire to have you
visit us fo' a spell."

"I was hoping for a bid," said young Keith. "Thanks. The car is here, or
will be within an hour or two. Father shipped it ahead. Sims wired us it
was at the junction. He will drive it over for us to go on to Casey Town
as soon as he overhauls it. Then I'll run in from the mines, as soon as
Dad can spare me."

"Donald has to get acquainted with a real mining property," said Keith
affably. "Molly was certain you would have a horse for her, Bourke.
Don't wait round for us. We have to get some supplies and we'll wait in
my car till the machine comes. Er"--he looked around, and Miss Nicholson
fluttered up--"this is Molly's companion, Miss Nicholson. She goes with
you to the ranch. How...?"

Sandy indicated the flivver and introduced Miranda B