ar C is fine and my
companions--well, they just simply can't be beat! they are the finest,
whitest set of men that ever gathered under one roof."

"That's very nice, I am glad that you find things so congenial," she
replied in sincerity. "James was sure that you would, for Mr. Blake is an
old friend of his."

"I'm very anxious about this pin," he said, putting his hand on it. "May
I keep it for a while longer?" he asked with a note of appeal in his voice.

"Why, yes," she replied, "if you wish to. But only as long as you do
not displease me, and you will not do that, will you? James has such
deep confidence in you that I know you will not disappoint him. You will
justify him in his own mind and in the minds of his acquaintances and
prove that he has not erred in judgment, won't you?"

"If I am the sum total of your brother's trouble, he will have a path of
roses to wander through all the rest of his life," he responded earnestly.
"And I'm really afraid that you will never again wear this pin as a
possession of yours. Of course you can borrow it occasionally," and he
smiled whimsically, "but as far as displeasing you is concerned, it is
mine forever. It will really and truly be mine on that condition, won't
it? My very own if I do not forfeit it?"

"If you wish it so," she replied quickly, her face radiant with smiles.
"And you will work hard and you will never shoot a man, no matter what the
provocation may be, unless it is absolutely necessary to do it for the
saving of your own life or that of a friend or an innocent man. Promise
me that!" she commanded imperatively, pleased at being able to dictate
to him. "Men like you never break a promise," she added impulsively.

"I promise never to shoot a man, woman, child or--or anybody," he
laughingly replied, "unless it is necessary to save life. And I'll work
real hard and save my money. And on Sundays, rain or shine, I'll ride in
and report to my new foreman." Then a bit of his old humor came to him:
"For I just about need this pin--knots are so clumsy, you know."

She glanced at the knot which held the pin and laughed merrily, leading
the way into the house.

As they entered Humble was extolling the virtues of his dog, to the
broad grins of his companions, who constantly added amendments and made
corrections _sotto voce._

"Why, here they are!" cried the sheriff in such a tone as to suffuse
Helen's face with blushes. The Orphan coolly shook hands with him.

"Ye