atty laughingly admitted she was not married. "But, I'd teach 'em a
lesson," she said. "I'd put the things on and let them get cold."

The older woman smiled, and at the sound of voices, peered out the
door: "Here they come now," she said, and proceeded to carry heaping
vegetable dishes and a steaming platter of savory boiled meat from the
stove to the table. There was a prodigious splashing outside the door
and a moment later Thompson appeared, followed by his two ranch hands,
hair wet and shining, plastered tightly to their scalps, and faces
aglow from vigorous scrubbing. "You mind Mr. Sinclair, that used to
prospect in the hills," introduced Mrs. Thompson; "this is his
daughter."

Her husband bowed awkwardly: "Glad to know you. We know'd yer
paw--used to stop now an' again on his way to town. He was a smart
man. Liked to talk to him. He'd be'n all over." The man turned his
attention to his plate and the meal proceeded in solemn silence to its
conclusion. The two ranch hands arose and disappeared through the
door, and tilting back in his chair Thompson produced a match from his
pocket, and proceeded to whittle it into a toothpick. "I heard in town
how you was out in the hills," he began. "They said yer paw went back
East--" he paused as if uncertain how to proceed.

Patty nodded: "Yes, he went back home, and this spring he died. He
told me he had made a strike and I came out here to locate it."

The kindly brown eyes regarded her intently: "Ever do any
prospectin'?"

"No. This is my first experience."

"I never, either. But, if I was you I'd kind of have an eye on my
neighbors."

"You mean--the Wattses?" asked the girl in surprise.

The brown eyes were twinkling again: "No, Watts, he's all right! Only
trouble with Watts is he sets an' herds the sun all day. But, they's
others besides Watts in the hills."

"Yes," answered the girl, quickly, "I know. And that is the reason I
came to see you about a horse."

"What's the matter with the one you got?"

"Nothing at all. He seems to be a good horse. He's fast too, when I
want to crowd him. But, I need another just as good and as fast as he
is. Have you one you will sell?"

"I'll sell anything I got, if the price is right," smiled the man.

Patty regarded him thoughtfully: "I haven't very much money," she
said. "How much is he worth?"

Thompson considered: "A horse ain't like a cow-brute. There ain't no
regular market price. Horses is worth just as much as y