ck," observed Polly, seating herself at the
table. "He ain't been the same man since the weddin'. He's all right
when Echo's around, but when he thinks no one is watchin' him he sits
around and sighs."

Jack entered the room at this moment. Absent-mindedly he hung his hat
and spurs on a rack and leaned his rifle against the wall, sighing
deeply as he did so. So engrossed was he in his thoughts that he did
not notice Polly until he reached the table. He started in surprise
when he saw her. "Hello, Polly!" was his greeting. "Where is Echo?"

Polly rose hastily at the sound of his voice.

"Didn't you meet her?" she asked. "We got her to ride over toward
Tucson this morning to get her out of the way so's to snake the pianny
in without her seein' it." Polly glided over to the instrument and
touched the keys softly.

With admiration Jack gazed at the instrument.

"I came around by Florence," answered Jack, with a smile.

Eagerly Polly turned toward him. "See anything of Bud Lane?" she
queried.

"No." Again Jack smiled--this time at the girl's impetuosity.

"He'll lose his job with me if he don't call more regular," she said.

"Say, Jack, you ain't fergettin' what you promised--to help Bud with
the money that you said was comin' in soon, as Dick's share of a
speculation you and him was pardners in? I'm powerful anxious to get
him away from McKee."

Jack had not forgotten the promise, but, alas, under the goading of
Mrs. Allen that he should clear off the mortgage on his home, he had
used Dick Lane's money for this purpose. In what a mesh of lies and
broken promises he was entangling himself! Now he was forced further
to deceive trusting little Polly in the matter that was dearest to her
heart.

"No, Polly, but the fact is--that speculation isn't turning out so
well, after all."

The disappointed girl turned sadly away, and went out to Mrs. Allen in
the kitchen.

Jack removed his belt and gun and hung them on the rack by the door.
Spying his father at the corral, he called to him to come into the
house.

"Hello, Jack!" was Allen's greeting as he entered, shaking the younger
man's hand.

"When did you come over?"

"This morning," Allen told him. "Echo's birthday, you know, and the
old lady allowed we'd have to be here. Ain't seen you since the
weddin'--got things lookin' fine here." Allen slowly surveyed the room.

Jack agreed with him with a gesture of assent. A more important topic
to hi