sight. He ran to Polly's and tried to kiss her, but she motioned
him aside, saying: "Too late--you lose."

"But I didn't know," stammered Bud.

"Next time you'll know. On your way," airily commanded the girl.

Bud's face darkened. "Oh, well, good-by."

Polly looked after him perplexed and angry. His surrender to her whims
without a fight nettled her.

"Good-by, yourself," she snapped. "He's the most forgetful man I ever
loved. If I thought he was a gamblin'-man, I'd get a divorce from him
before I married him. I would sure," murmured Polly, as Bud
disappeared toward the corral.

Polly's musing was interrupted by the return of Buck McKee.

"Is Bud Lane over yere?" he asked.

"You must have passed him just now. He's just got in from
night-herdin'."

"I thought I seed him comin' this way. When's the weddin'-bells goin'
to ring?"

Polly flushed. "Next month. Then you'll lose Bud's company fer good,"
she answered defiantly.

"Well, I ain't been doin' him much good," Buck assented. "I'm goin'
back home, though."

Polly gazed at Buck in surprise. Here was a new view of the man; one
she had never considered. It was strange to hear this outlaw and bad
man talk of a home. The repetition of the word "home" by Polly, led
him to continue:

"Yep. Up to the Strip, where I was borned at. This yere climate's a
leetle too dry to suit me. I'm goin' to get a leetle ranch and a
leetle gal, an' settle down for sure."

"I wish you may," said Polly heartily. "You sure acted mighty fine
about that Peruna insultin' Mrs. Payson."

Harshly as Polly had felt toward Buck, his actions in the recent
incidents had softened her feelings toward him.

"I admire to hear you say it," said Buck, bowing. "I've played square
with women all my life. I ain't never slipped a card nor rung in a
cold deck on any one of 'em yet."

Buck sat down on the step of the wagon. He hesitated for a moment, and
then asked: "Say, did you ever have a premonition?"

"Nope! The worst I ever had was the hookin'-cough."

Buck smiled, but did not explain to Polly the meaning of the word.

"Well, this premonition," he continued, "hits me hard, an' that's what
makes me start for home. Thought I'd like to say good-by to you an'
Bud. I go north with the big drive in the mornin', an' won't see you
ag'in."

"Well, good luck and good-by to you." Polly held out her hand in her
most friendly fashion.

Buck arose and took off his hat.