e
starting with forty acres all in apples."

"But they have saddle-horses?" said Tisdale, frowning.

"I can't tell you that. The fellow I talked with came over for freight and
used one of the teams. Said they couldn't spare it. But that's your only
chance. I don't know of any other horses in twenty miles, unless it's a
wild band that passed this morning. They stopped down the draw, nosing out
the bunch grass for an hour or two, then skidooed."

Tisdale paused a thoughtful moment then asked: "When is the next freight
due on this siding?"

"Two-forty-five. And say"--he slapped his knee at the sudden thought--
"that's your chance, sure. I have orders to hold them for the eastbound
silk train, and they'll let you ride in the caboose up to Kittitas. That's
the stop this side of Ellensburg, and there's a livery there, with a
cross-road to strike the Ellensburg-Wenatchee. But, say! If you do drop
off at Kittitas, ask Lighter to show you the colts. They are the star team
in three counties. Took the prize at North Yakima last year for
three-year-olds. They're too fly for livery work, but if you can drive,
and Lighter likes your looks"--the station master gave Tisdale a careful
scrutiny--"and you have his price, I shouldn't wonder if you could hire
Nip and Tuck."

Tisdale laughed. "I see. If I can't hire them, I may be allowed the
privilege to buy them. But," and he looked at his watch, "there's time to
try that ranch."

He started down the platform then stopped to look back at the girl who had
followed a few steps from the threshold. Her eyes held their expression of
uncertainty whether to sparkle or to cloud, and he read the arrested
question on her lips. "If there are any saddle-horses," he answered, "I
will have them here before that two-forty-five freight arrives, but," and
he smiled, "I am not so sure I can supply the proper riding-suit. And the
most I hope for in saddles is just a small Mexican."

"A Mexican is easy riding," she said, "on a mountain road." But she stood
watching him, with the uncertainty still clouding her face, while he moved
down the draw.

He wore the suit of gray corduroy it was his habit to wear in open
country, with leggings of russet leather, and he traveled very swiftly,
with a long, easy stride, though never rapidly enough to wholly escape the
dust he disturbed. Once he stopped and bent to fasten a loose strap, and
then he took off his coat, which he folded to carry. The pall of dust
env