ailey, who had been
directing the stowage of the grips and the proper subordination of the
porter, who had not seemed appreciative of the flivver.

Molly held out a gloved hand for the reins of the fretful Blaze. Young
Keith advanced with the proffer of a palm of her mounting. She shook her
head at him.

"Blaze wouldn't know what you were trying to do, Don," she said. She
turned the stirrup, set in her foot, grasped mane and horn and raised
herself lightly, holding her body close to the bay's withers for a
second as he whirled, then lifting to the saddle, firm-seated, with a
laugh for Blaze's plungings.

"I see they didn't unteach you ridin' back east," said Mormon
admiringly.

The pair rode out of the crowd that opened for them, with whispered
comments upon Molly's appearance, or rather, her reappearance. There
were few stings in the remarks; the girl's spontaneous gaiety, her
absolute unconsciousness of effort or cause, her evident delight in her
return and reunion with the Three Star partners, disarmed all criticism
of her costume. The Amenable Nicholson clambered into the flivver beside
Miranda Bailey. Sam, Mormon and the grips packed the tonneau, and Keith
and his son were left standing by the private car.

Keith was soon surrounded with a crowd, making himself popular,
flattering them until they finally went away convinced that they had all
constituted a first-class reception committee to meet the illustrious,
the energetic, good-fellow-well-met promoter and engineer of other
people's fortunes.

Some of them were invited into the car for a private talk. It is certain
that cigars were handed round and it was hinted that some private stock
had found its way upon the car. When, three hours later, the big machine
with Sims the chauffeur, imperturbable as ever, at the wheel, departed
with the promoter and his heir, the name of Keith was, for a time at
least, a household word in Hereford.

There was not much spoken between Molly and Sandy on the way back to the
ranch. She seemed content to breathe in deep the herb-scented air and
gaze at the mountains.

Sandy, riding a little to one side, a little back of her, so that he
could see her better without appearing to stare, echoed, for the time,
her happiness. It seemed to him as if this ride had been dreamed of by
him, long ago, as if he had always known this was to happen, the gallop,
side by side, the wind in their faces, their gaze toward the range, he
and a w