man might be proud. She had that fine combination of attractions which
is expressed in the word charm. She had health, constitution, beauty.
She had courage and sympathy. She had qualities of leadership. She
would bring to him not only the material means to build a house, but the
spiritual qualities which make a home. She would make him the envy of
all his acquaintances. And a jealous man loves to be envied.

So after the work on the excavations had been properly started Transley
turned over the detail to the always dependable Linder, and, remarking
that he had not had a final settlement with Y.D., set out for the ranch
in the foothills. While spending the long autumn day alone in the buggy
he was able to turn over and develop plans on an even more ambitious
scale than had occurred to him amid the hustle of his men and horses.

The valley was lying very warm and beautiful in yellow light, and the
setting sun was just capping the mountains with gold and painting great
splashes of copper and bronze on the few clouds becalmed in the heavens,
when Transley's tired team jogged in among the cluster of buildings
known as the Y.D. The rancher met him at the bunk-house. He greeted
Transley with a firm grip of his great palm, and with jaws open in
suggestion of a sort of carnivorous hospitality.

"Come up to the house, Transley," he said, turning the horses over to
the attention of a ranch hand. "Supper is just ready, an' the women will
be glad to see you."

Zen, walking with a limp, met them at the gate. Transley's eyes
reassured him that he had not been led astray by any process of
idealization; Zen was all his mind had been picturing her. She was worth
the effort. Indeed, a strange sensation of tenderness suffused him as he
walked by her side to the door, supporting her a little with his hand.
There they were ushered in by the rancher's wife, and Zen herself showed
Transley to a cool room where were white towels and soft water from the
river and quiet and restful furnishings. Transley congratulated himself
that he could hardly hope to be better received.

After supper he had a social drink with Y.D., and then the two sat on
the veranda and smoked and discussed business. Transley found Y.D. more
liberal in the adjustment than he had expected. He had not yet realized
to what an extent he had won the old rancher's confidence, and Y.D. was
a man who, when his confidence had been won, never haggled over details.
He was willin