. There is so much narrowness in religion.
Now, I am an Episcopalian myself, but I do not mean to permit that to
interfere in any way with my church work out here. I wonder if Mr.
Moffat can be an Episcopalian. If he is, I am just going to show him
that it is clearly his duty to assist in any Christian service. Is n't
that the true, liberal, Western spirit, Mr. Wynkoop?"

"It most assuredly should be," said the young pastor.

"I left every prejudice east of the Missouri," she declared,
laughingly, "every one, social and religious. I 'm going to be a true
Westerner, from the top of my head to the toe of my shoe. Is Mr.
McNeil in your church?"

The minister hesitated. "I really do not recall the name," he
confessed at last, reluctantly. "I scarcely think I can have ever met
the gentleman."

"Oh, you ought to; he is so intensely original, and his face is full of
character. He reminds me of some old paladin of the Middle Ages. You
would be interested in him at once. He is the foreman of the 'Bar V'
ranch, somewhere near here."

"Do you mean Billy McNeil, over on Sinsiniwa Creek?" broke in Herndon.

"I think quite likely, uncle; would n't he make a splendid addition to
Mr. Wynkoop's church?"

Herndon choked, his entire body shaking with ill-suppressed enjoyment.
"I should imagine yes," he admitted finally. "Billy McNeil--oh, Lord!
There 's certainly a fine opening for you to do some missionary work,
Phoebe."

"Well, and I 'm going to," announced the young lady, firmly. "I guess
I can read men's characters, and I know all Mr. McNeil needs is to have
some one show an interest in him. Have you a large church, Mr.
Wynkoop?"

"Not large if judged from an Eastern standpoint," he confessed, with
some regret. "Our present membership is composed of eight women and
three men, but the congregational attendance is quite good, and
constantly increasing."

"Only eight women and three men!" breathlessly. "And you have been
laboring upon this field for five years! How could it be so small?"

Wynkoop pushed back his chair, anxious to redeem himself in the
estimation of this fair stranger.

"Miss Spencer," he explained, "it is perhaps hardly strange that you
should misapprehend the peculiar conditions under which religious labor
is conducted in the West. You will undoubtedly understand all this
better presently. My parish comprises this entire mining region, and I
am upon horseback among the foothills and up