midday; or, this failing,
sharing the dinner of some friendly ranchman. Also, they slept at some
little inn or ranch, and where their hosts would receive it, Ephraim
delighted to make liberal payment for their entertainment.

Indeed, he felt a prince, with his well-filled purse, and would have
forced all sorts of dainties and knickknacks upon his little charge,
at each village they passed through, save that she resolutely refused
them.

"You generous Ephraim, no! What money we need for the trip and after
we get to Los Angeles is all right. But you mustn't waste it. Hear! I
am older than you in this thing."

"But--I want you to have everything nice in the world, Lady Jess. Any
other of the 'boys' traveling with you----"

"Could not have been so kind and thoughtful as you. Not one. Dearly as I
love them I'd rather have you to take care of me on this long journey
than any other single one. So do be good and not extravagant. And isn't
it lovely to find how almost everybody knew of my dear father? Or, if
they didn't know him for himself, they'd heard of him and of something
he'd done for somebody. It makes the way seem almost short and as if
I'd been over the road before."

"He often passed this way, child; and whenever he went left pleasant
memories behind him. He was a grand man, was Cassius Trent. Ugh! To
think----"

"That will be all right, Ephraim. I know it. I feel it. And how I do
love all the new places and things I see. I should never have cared to
leave Sobrante but for this business; yet now I have left it I'm finding
the world a big, splendid, lovely place."

"H-m-m! I reckon even this old earth could show only its best side to
you, little girl. However, it _has_ been pleasant and it's about over.
Aunt Sally's provisions didn't have to go into the mesquite bushes,
after all. What we couldn't eat we've found plenty of others to take
off our hands. Even the medicine didn't go begging, and that'll do her
proud to hear. Poor wretches who have to take it!"

"But they wanted it, Ephraim. Some of the women said they hadn't had
a dose of medicine in years and seemed as pleased as if it had been
sweetmeats. Now the basket is empty. What shall you do with that?"

"Leave it at the next place we stop."

They had set out upon their ride on Tuesday morning and this was sunset,
Saturday. They were descending the slope of a mountain and the guide
pointed forward, eagerly.

"Do you see that hazy spot off yonder? Th