"Do you want to see him very bad, Mr. Flandrau?" asked Miss Laura demurely. "My friends call me Curly." "I meant to say Curly." "That's what I thought. No, I can't say I've lost Mr. London." "You inquired for him." "Hmp! That's different. When I used to come home from the swimming hole contrary to orders, I used to ask where Dad was, but I didn't want to see him." "I see. Did you just come down from the horse ranch?" "You've guessed it right." "Then I'm sorry I can't ask you to 'light. Dad's orders." "You've got lots of respect for his orders, haven't you?" he derided. "Yes, I have." She could not quite make up her mind whether to laugh or become indignant. "Then there's no use trying to tell you the news from the ranch." A smile dimpled her cheeks and bubbled in her eyes. "If you should tell me, I suppose I couldn't help hearing." "But I'm trying to figure out my duty. Maybe I oughtn't to tempt you." "While you're making up your mind, I'll run back into the kitchen and look at the pies in the oven." Curly swung from the saddle, and tossed the bridle rein to the ground. He followed her into the house. She was taking an apple pie from the oven, but took time to be saucy over her shoulder. "I'm not allowed to invite you into the house, sir." "Anything in the by-laws about me inviting myself in?" "No, that wasn't mentioned." "Anything in them about you meeting one of the lads from the horse ranch up on the hillside where it is neutral ground?" "Did Sam come with you?" she cried. "Who said anything about Sam?" Glints of excitement danced in the brown pupils of her eyes. "He's here. Oh, I know he's here." "What do I get for bringing good news?" "I didn't say it was good news." "Sho! Your big eyes are shouting it." "Was that the news from the horse ranch?" "That's part of it, but there is more. Sam and Curly are on their way to Saguache to spend the Fourth of July. Sam is going for another reason, but I'm not sure yet what it is." "You mean----?" "There's something doing I don't _savez_, some big deal on foot that's not on the level. Sam is in it up to the hocks. To throw me off the scent they fixed up a quarrel among them. Sam is supposed to be quitting Soapy's outfit for good. But I know better." White to the lips, she faced him bravely. "What sort of trouble is he leading Sam into?" "I've got a kind of a notion. But it won't bear talking about yet. Don't you worry, little girl. I'm going to stand by Sam. And don't tell him what I've told you, unless you want to spoil my chance of helping him." "I won't," she promised; then added, with quick eagerness: "Maybe I can help you. I'm going down to Saguache to visit on the fourth. I'm to be there two weeks." "I'll look you up. Trouble is that Sam is hell bent on ruining himself. Seems to think Soapy is his best friend. If we could show him different things might work out all right."