eep. It was infinitely peaceful.

There was the sound of a motor outside, the honk of a horn. The door
opened and a man came in, gazing uncertainly about him in the
half-light--Westlake.

"This is the Three Star, isn't it?" he asked, evidently puzzled at the
group.

Sandy lit the big lamp as they all rose, Grit nosing the engineer,
accepting him.

"Sure is," he said. "You know Miss Bailey, Westlake? Miss Keith an' Miss
Nicholson, Mr. Westlake. They both know something about you. Come to
stay, I hope."

His voice was cordial as he gripped Westlake's hand, though the
remembrance of what Sam had said at the mining camp leaped up within
him. Westlake and Molly! Here was a man who might mate with her, might
suit her wonderfully well. Upstanding, educated, no lightweight
pleasure-seeker, as he estimated Donald Keith. Here was a complication
in his dreams of happiness that he had lost sight of. He saw the two
appraising each other and approving.

"If you can put up with me, for a bit," said Westlake. "I've come partly
on business, Bourke. I've left Casey Town."

He seemed to speak with some embarrassment, glancing toward Molly. Sandy
sensed that something had happened with his relations with Keith.

"You're more than welcome," he said. "Any one with you?"

"No, I came over with a machine from the garage at Hereford," he said.
"I'll get my things and send him back."

Sandy went outside with him and helped him with his grips. The machine
started.

"Quit Keith?" asked Sandy.

"Yes, we had a misunderstanding. About my staying here, Bourke. It may
be a bit awkward. Young Donald Keith intends coming over. I am sure he
doesn't know a thing about his father's business affairs. But I have a
strong hunch that Keith himself will be along later to offset any talk
he thinks I may have with you. He'll figure I've come here. He doesn't
know all that I have found out, at that. If it's likely to embarrass you
or your guests in the least I'll go on to Denver to-morrow. I'm headed
that way. I've got a South American proposition in view. Wired them
yesterday and may hear at any minute."

"Shucks!" said Sandy. "Yo're my friend. Young Keith don't interest me,
save as Molly wants to entertain him. I'm under no obligations to Keith
himse'f. Yo're my guest an' we'll keep you's long we can hold you in the
corral. As fo' Molly, you don't know her. If it come to a show-down
between you an' Keith, with you in the right, there ain't any qu