d stopped before the door of a two-story wooden building that
flaunted across its front the words "MONTANA HOTEL." As Patty climbed
stiffly to the sidewalk each separate joint and muscle shrieked its
aching protest at the fifteen-hour ride in the springless, jolting
wagon. Microby placed her foot upon the sideboard and jumped, her
cow-hide boots thudding loudly upon the wooden planking.

"Oughtn't you stay with the horses while I make the arrangements?"

Microby shook her head in vigorous protest. "They-all hain't a-goin'
nowheres less'n they has to. An' I want to go 'long."

A thick-set man, collarless and coatless, who tilted back in his chair
with his feet upon the window ledge, glanced up indifferently as they
entered and crossed to the desk, and returned his gaze to the window,
beyond which objects showed dimly in the gathering darkness. After a
moment of awkward silence Patty addressed him. "Is the proprietor
anywhere about?"

"I'm him," grunted the man, without looking around.

The girl's face flushed angrily. "I want a room and supper for two."

"Nawthin' doin'. Full up."

"Is there another hotel in this town?" she flashed angrily.

"No."

"Do you mean to say that there is no place where we can get
accommodation for the night?"

"That's about the size of it."

"Can't we get anything to eat, either?" It was with difficulty Patty
concealed her rage at the man's insolence. "If you knew how hungry we
are--we've been driving since daylight with only a cold lunch for
food." She did not add that the cold lunch had been so unappetizing
she had not touched it.

"Supper's over a couple hours, an' the help's gone out."

"I'll pay you well if you can only manage to get us something--we're
starved." The girl's rage increased as she noticed the gleam that
lighted the heavy eyes. That, evidently was what he had been waiting
for.

"Well," he began, but she cut him short.

"And a room, too."

"I'm full up, I told you. The only way might be to pay someone to
double up. An' with these here cowpunchers that comes high. I might--"
The opening of the screen door drew all eyes toward the man who
entered and stood just within the room. As Patty glanced at the
soft-brimmed hat, the brilliant scarf, and noticed that the yellow
lamplight glinted upon the tip of polished buffalo horn, and the ivory
butt of the revolver, her lips tightened. But the man was not looking
at her--seemed hardly aware of her presence. The bur