Bronzed almost to a coffee brown, with the lean lithe grace of youth garbed in the picturesque regalia of the _vaquero_, Flandrau was a taking enough picture to hold the roving eye of any girl. A good many centered upon him now, as he sauntered forward toward the Cullison box cool and easy and debonair. More than one pulse quickened at sight of him, for his gallantry, his peril and his boyishness combined to enwrap him in the atmosphere of romance. Few of the observers knew what a wary vigilance lay behind that careless manner. Kate gathered her skirts to make room for him beside her. "Have you heard? He has left town." "Who?" "Soapy Stone. The cattlemen served notice on him to go. So he left." A wave of relief swept over the young man. "That's your father's fine work." "Isn't it good?" Her eyes were shining with gladness. "I'm plumb satisfied," he admitted. "I'm not hankering to shoot out my little difference with Soapy. He's too handy with a six-gun." "I'm so happy I don't know what to do." "I suppose now the hold-up will be put off. Did Sam and Blackwell go with him?" "No. He went alone." "Have you seen Sam yet?" "No, but I've seen Laura London. She's all the nice things you've said about her." Curly grew enthusiastic, "Ain't she the dandiest girl ever? She's the right kind of a friend. And pretty--with that short crinkly hair the color of ripe nuts! You would not think one person could own so many dimples as she does when she laughs. It's just like as if she had absorbed sunshine and was warming you up with her smile." "I see she has made a friend of you." "You bet she has." Miss Cullison shot a swift slant glance at him. "If you'll come back this afternoon you can meet her. I'm going to have all those dimples and all that sunshine here in the box with me." "Maybe that will draw Sam to you." "I'm hoping it will. But I'm afraid not. He avoids us. When they met he wouldn't speak to Father." "That's the boy of it. Just the same he feels pretty bad about the quarrel. I reckon there's nothing to do but keep an eye on him and be ready for Soapy's move when he makes it." "I'm so afraid something will happen to Sam." "Now don't you worry, Miss Kate. Sam is going to come out of this all right. We'll find a way out for him yet." Behind her smile the tears lay close. "You're the _best_ friend. How can we ever thank you for what you're doing for Sam?" A steer had escaped from the corral and was galloping down the track in front of the grandstand with its tail up. The young man's eyes followed the animal absently as he answered in a low voice. "Do you reckon I have forgot how a girl took a rope from my neck one night? Do you reckon I ever forget that?" "It was nothing. I just spoke to the boys." "Or that I don't remember how the man I had shot went bail for a rustler he did not know?" "Dick knew you. He told us about you."