ht, but he's got a whole lot of brothers."

Mrs. Shields walked over to The Orphan and placed a motherly hand on his
shoulder as he recovered.

"You won't be an orphan any longer, my boy," she said, smiling up at him.
"You're one of us now--I always wanted a son, and God has given me one
in you."

CHAPTER XXII

TEX WILLIARD'S MISTAKE

During the month which followed the picnic things ran smoothly on the
A-Y, and the rejuvenated ranch was the pride of the whole contingent,
from the sheriff down to the cook. The Orphan had taken charge with a
determination which grew firmer with each passing day and the new
owner was delighted at the outcome of his plans. The foreman, elated
and happy at his sudden shift in fortune, radiated cheerfulness and
consideration. His men knew that he would not ask them to do anything
which he himself feared to do, which would not have been much consolation
to a timid man, since he feared nothing; but to them it meant that
they had a foreman who would stick by them through fire and water,
and a foreman who commands respect from his outfit is a man whose life
is made easy for him. He had known too much of unkindness, harshness,
to become angry at mistakes; instead, he set diligently at work to undo
them, and mistakes were rare. The very men who had once wished for his
life would now fight instantly to save it. They were proud of him, of
the owner, the ranch and themeselves; and proudest of all was Bill, once
driver of the stage, but now a cowboy working hard and loyally under the
man who had once held him up for a smoke.

Visitors were numerous, and every man who called became enthusiastic
about the ranch, and after he had departed marveled at the complete
change in the man who was its foreman, and felt confidence in the good
judgment of the sheriff. Ford's Station was openly jubilant, for the town
exulted in the discomfiture of the Cross Bar-8 and in the proof that
their sheriff was right. And Ford's Station chuckled at the news it
heard, for the foreman of the Cross Bar-8 had called twice at the A-Y and
was fast losing his prejudice against The Orphan. Sneed had found a
quiet, optimistic foreman in the place of his former enemy, and the
laughter which lurked in The Orphan's eyes closed the breach. He had
seen the man in a new light, and when he had said his farewell at the
close of his second visit the grip of his hand was strong. As for the
Star C, a trail had been worn between t