Mercedes came in, radiant and soft-voiced. She fell upon her knees beside Thorne's bed, and neither of them appeared to see Nell enter with a tray. Then Gale and Nell made a good deal of unnecessary bustle in moving a small table close to the bed. Mercedes had forgotten for the moment that her lover had been a starving man. If Thorne remembered it he did not care. They held hands and looked at each other without speaking. "Nell, I thought I had it bad," whispered Dick. "But I'm not--" "Hush. It's beautiful," replied Nell, softly; and she tried to coax Dick from the room. Dick, however, thought he ought to remain at least long enough to tell Thorne that a man in his condition could not exist solely upon love. Mercedes sprang up blushing with pretty, penitent manner and moving white hands eloquent of her condition. "Oh, Mercedes--don't go!" cried Thorne, as she stepped to the door. "Senor Dick will stay. He is not mucha malo for you--as I am." Then she smiled and went out. "Good Lord!" exclaimed Thorne. "How I love her. Dick, isn't she the most beautiful, the loveliest, the finest--" "George, I share your enthusiasm," said Dick, dryly, "but Mercedes isn't the only girl on earth." Manifestly this was a startling piece of information, and struck Thorne in more than one way. "George," went on Dick, "did you happen to observe the girl who saved your life--who incidentally just fetched in your breakfast?" "Nell Burton! Why, of course. She's brave, a wonderful girl, and really nice-looking." "You long, lean, hungry beggar! That was the young lady who might answer the raving eulogy you just got out of your system.... I--well, you haven't cornered the love market!" Thorne uttered some kind of a sound that his weakened condition would not allow to be a whoop. "Dick! Do you mean it?" "I shore do, as Laddy says." "I'm glad, Dick, with all my heart. I wondered at the changed look you wear. Why, boy, you've got a different front.... Call the lady in, and you bet I'll look her over right. I can see better now." "Eat your breakfast. There's plenty of time to dazzle you afterward." Thorne fell to upon his breakfast and made it vanish with magic speed. Meanwhile Dick told him something of a ranger's life along the border. "You needn't waste your breath," said Thorne. "I guess I can see. Belding and those rangers have made you the real thing--the real Western goods.... What I want to know is all about the girl." "Well, Laddy swears she's got your girl roped in the corral for looks."