o do about it. Just as soon as the
Lord'll let us, I'm going to take her out of here. Do you think I'm
one of them sort that'll set down and let the world walk over me, and
say I like it? Oh, no, not sister Annie! I ain't blind."

"Say, Mister," said she a moment later as he maintained disconsolate
silence, "they call you Wid. What's your real name?"

"My name is Henry," remarked her companion. "They only call me Wid for
short."

"Huh! Well, now, Henry, go get some wood for supper. Cut it short
enough so the door'll shut tight. And fetch in another pail of
water--water's apt to get bad, standing around that way. And while
you're out along this little creek pull some of this water cress and
bring it in--didn't you know it's good to eat? And, Henry, if you've
got any cows, you see that one of them is brought over here, and a
churn--we got to have some butter. We got to get a garden started even
if it is a little bit late. And, Henry, listen, them hens got to have
some kind of a door to their coop--they're just walking around aimless.
And I want you to get a collar for that little dog--I'm going to see if
I can learn it to lead Mary around. There's a heap of things have got
to be done here. How long you been living here yourself?"

"Why, I don't live here a-tall," said Wid, aghast at the new duties
which seemed to be crowding upon him. "That's my place over there
acrosst the fence. I just strolled over in here to-day. They burned
me out."

"You two was neighbors, huh? And I suppose you both set around and
figured out that fine little game about advertising for a wife? Well,
you got one, anyway, didn't you?"

"Well, this ain't my place--Sim lives here."

"You don't suppose I'd ask him to do anything, do you?" said Annie
Squires. "He's no good. I tell you he'll be playing in luck if I
don't break loose and read the law to him."

"Well, now," said Wid, apologetically, "I wouldn't start any too strong
right at first. There ain't nothing he wouldn't do for her--nothing in
the whole, wide world."

"But now, about you," he added--"I'm glad you've come. It looks sort
of like you was going to move in, don't it?"

"You've said it," said Annie.

Wid Gardner looked at her curiously, and meekly went about his new
duties regarding wood and water.

CHAPTER XXV

ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE

Revolution, and not less, had occurred within a month at Sim Gage's
ranch. This was not so much evidenced by