"Letter!" repeated Dixie incredulously. "What, from his girl? Oh, he'll be all right in a day or so--who ever heard of a cowboy going into a decline? And say, talking about letters, why didn't you take that one I wrote you the other day? I had something mighty special to communicate to you in that, but you'll never get it now! I hope the boys did something to you!" "Yes," answered Bowles serenely; "they hazed me for a day or two. You seem to have a great many admirers out here, Miss Lee." Dixie May's eyes flashed at the evident implication, and she had a retort on her lips, but something in his manner restrained her. "How can I help it if the boys get foolish?" she demanded severely. "And you don't want to let your Eastern ideas deceive you--it's the custom of the country out here." "Yes, indeed," purled Bowles; "and a very pretty custom, too. Have you just come back from Chula Vista?" "Yes, I have!" snapped Dixie. "But you don't need to get so superior about it! I guess I can do what I please, can't I?" "Why, certainly," assented Bowles. "Well, then, what do you want to get so supercilious for?" raged Dixie. "I don't know, there's something about the way you talk that fairly maddens me! I've a good mind to tell the boys who you are, and have them run you out of the country! Why didn't you take that letter I wrote you?" She was angry now, and her voice was pitched high for a scolding, but Bowles showed no signs of fear. "The letter you wrote was addressed to Samuel Houghton," he said; "and that is not my name." "Well, what is your name, then?" demanded Dixie. "Bowles?" For a moment Bowles gazed at her, and there was a pained look in his eyes--what if his beloved should turn out to be a scold? "Why do you ask?" he inquired; and so gently did he say it that she faltered, as if ashamed. "Well," she said, "I guess it isn't any of my business, _is_ it? I don't know what I'm doing here, anyway. If there's any one thing that makes Mother furious, it's to see me hanging around the bunk-house. She thinks I----" She rose suddenly, and shook out her skirt, but Bowles did not protest. "You don't seem to care whether I go or not?" she pouted. "Quite the contrary, I assure you, Miss Lee," declared Bowles earnestly. "But I'm not on my own ground now, and--well, I don't wish to take advantage of your hospitality." "No," said Dixie with gentle irony, "nothing like that! You want to be careful how you treat these Arizona girls--they're liable to misunderstand your motives!" [Illustration: "'YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TREAT THESE ARIZONA GIRLS!'"] Bowles' eyes lighted up with a merry twinkle, but he preserved his poker face. "Oh, I hope not!" he said; and then both of them smiled very knowingly.