eslie's improvement. He has lost
his cough; he does seem to be well, now; but--there is still enough
delicacy about his appearance to make us anxious. You do your best, Lem,
and so will I."

The captain had drawn himself up with a little pride, but with an
adoring look in his old eyes, and had answered:

"Drop that, Boss, drop it! Of all the unfortunate, down-on-their-luck
fellers 't this S' Leon ranch shelters now, I was the downdest! I ain't
never forgot what you done for me, takin' me out the gutter, so to
speak, and settin' me on my pins again. And if there's a single mortal
thing 't I can do for you--that debt's paid an' overpaid, a hundred
thousand times. A hundred thousand times, sir, yes, sir."

"A hundred thousand is a sizable number, Lem--but we understand each
other. Shake hands and--God speed your efforts!"

This little talk had taken place on the night before, and Lady Gray had
taken an opportunity to relate it to Dorothy. This was why she so
eagerly fell in with Captain Lemuel's idea, though she forebore to
mention it to any of the other young folks at San Leon. Lady Gray had
warned her:

"I would rather Leslie did not himself know, and if the others did he'd
be sure to find it out. It would make him conspicuous, maybe worry him
and set him brooding over himself, so I'm trusting you to keep it
secret. And, in any case, what better amusement could you have? The
regular exercise in this perfect air will be as good for you girls as
for the boys."

Now as Dorothy fell into step with the Captain, she realized that here
was one thing, however slight, that she could do to prove her love for
sweet Lady Gray. She could use her influence to keep up what the others
considered a temporary game, entered into merely to gratify the vanity
of an ex-sharpshooter; and as she now marched along by his side, she
begged:

"Do please, Captain, set a regular hour for this drill, and make us
stick to it, just as in the regular army. I promise I'll not oversleep
again--I'll try not, I mean. Will you?"

"Sure, Little One, and I'll app'int you First Leftenant, Company B, San
Leon Life Guards. Halt!"

He stopped and faced his followers:

"It has been proposed 't we make this a regular company, same as Company
A, of the boys. I second the proposition. I'd be proud to train ye, if
so be you'll hold up your end the musket. I mean, no shirkin' duty and
bein' marched to the guard house, or sentinel work, for bad behavior.
Put