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Mrs. James came in soon–all too soon to please him–but he reported to her his message to Claywall. “A doctor will be down on ‘the Cannonball’ about five o’clock,” he added.

“That’s very kind and thoughtful of you,” said the girl. Then she explained to Mrs. James that Mr. Pierce had just driven off a horrid band of cowboys who were attacking the town.

The landlady snorted with contempt. “I’m so used to boozy cowboys howlin’ round, I don’t bat an eye when they shoot up the street. They’re all a lot of cheap skates, anyway. You want to swat ’em with the mop if they come round; that’s the way I do.”

Roy was nettled by her tone, for he was now very anxious to pose as a valorous defender of the innocent; but agreed with her that “the boys were just having a little ‘whiz’ as they started home; they didn’t mean no harm.”

“Ought I to sit in there?” the girl asked the woman, with a glance toward the inner room.

“No; I don’t think you can do any good. I’ll just keep an eye on him and let you know if they’s any change.”

The girl apologized for the looks of the kitchen. “Poor uncle has been so feeble lately he couldn’t keep things in order, and I haven’t had any chance since I came. If you don’t mind, I’ll rid things up now; it’ll keep my mind occupied.”

“Good idea!” exclaimed Roy. “I’ll help.”

He had been in a good many exciting mix-ups with steers, bears, cayuses, sheriffs’ posses, and Indians, but this was easily the most stirring and amazing hour of his life. While his pony slowly slid away up the hill to feed, he, with flapping gun and rattling spurs, swept, polished, and lifted things for Lida–that was her name–Lida Converse.

“My folks live in Colorado Springs,” she explained in answer to his questions. “My mother is not very well, and father is East, so I had to come. Uncle Dan was pretty bad when I got here, only not like he is now. This fit came on after the doctor went away at nine.”

“I’m glad your father was East,” declared the raider, who was unable to hold to a serious view of the matter, now that he was in the midst of a charming and intimate conversation. “Just think–if he had ‘a’ come, I’d never have seen you!”

She faced him in surprise and disapproval of his boldness. “You’re pretty swift, aren’t you?” she said, cuttingly.

“A feller’s got to be in this country,” he replied, jauntily.

She was prepared to be angry with him, but his candid, humorous, admiring gaze disarmed her. “You’ve been very nice,” she said, “and I feel very grateful; but I guess you better not say any more such things to me–to-night.”

“You mustn’t forget I chased off them redskins.”

“You said they were cowboys.”

“Of course I did; I wanted to calm your mind.”

She was a little puzzled by his bluffing. “I don’t believe there are any Indians over here.”

“Well, if they were cowboys, they were a fierce lot.”

She considered. “I’ve told you I feel grateful. What more can I do?”

“A good deal; but, as you say, that can go over till to-morrow. Did I tell you that I had a bunch of cattle of my own?”

“I don’t remember of it.”

“Well, I have. I’m not one of these crazy cowboys who blows in all his wad on faro and drink–not on your life! I’ve got some ready chink stacked away in a Claywall bank. Want to see my bank-book?”

She answered, curtly: “Please take that kettle of slop out and empty it. And what time did you say the express was due?”

Roy was absorbed, ecstatic. He virtually forgot all the rest of the world. His herders could ride to the north pole, his pony might starve, the Cannonball Express go over the cliff, the postmaster die, so long as he was left in service to this princess.