lonel, a broad smile illuminating
his face. Holding his pipe in one hand, he licked his lips at the
thought of "lickering up" without the invention of an excuse for his
wife.

Then he joined in a hearty laugh with the men about the corral as he
heard the grunts and stamping of a plunging mustang. A cow-pony had
entered into the spirit of the occasion and was trying to toss his
rider over his head.

Fresno was the victim of the horse's deviltry.

His predicament aroused wild shouts of mirth and sallies of the wit of
the corral.

"Hunt leather, Fresno, or he'll buck you clean over the wall," shouted
Sage-brush.

"Grab his tail," yelled Show Low, with a whoop.

"All over," was the chorus, as Fresno, with a vicious jab of his spurs
and a jerk of the head, brought the animal into subjection.

"Come right in, boys!" called Allen. "Let the Greasers take the
hosses."

With shrill shouts, whoops, and much laughter the guests crowded about
the ranchman.

Each wore his holiday clothes; new handkerchiefs were knotted about
their necks. Fresno had stuck little American flags in the band of his
hat, the crown of which he had removed. "I want head-room for the
morning after," he had said.

Show Low's chaps were conspicuously new, and his movements were
heralded by the creaking of unsoftened leather.

Last of the band was Parenthesis, short, bow-legged, with a face tanned
and seamed by exposure.

The cowboys ran stiffly, toeing slightly inward. Long hours in the
saddle made them apparently awkward and really ungraceful when on the
ground.

They greeted Allen with hearty enthusiasm, slapping him on the back,
poking him in the ribs, and swinging him from one to the other, with
cries of: "Howdy, Uncle Jim!"

"Howdy, Sage-brush? Hello, Fresno! Waltz right in, Show Low. Glad to
see you all!" cried Allen, as he, in turn, brought his hand down with
ringing slaps upon shoulder and back. Meantime Parenthesis hopped
about the outer edge of the ring, seeking an entrance. Failing to
reach his host, he crowed: "How de doddle do," to attract his attention.

Allen broke from the ring. Grasping Parenthesis by the hand, he said:
"I'm tolerable, thankee, Parenthesis. Where's Jack?--didn't he come
over with you?"

"What! the boss? Ain't he got here yet?" asked the foreman. Tall and
lean, with hardened muscles, Sage-brush Charley was as lithe as a
panther on horseback. His first toy had been a rope with which, as a
t