"Maybe I ought to think twice before taking a stranger into my family," said Belding, seriously. "Well, I guess he's all right, Laddy, being the cavalryman's friend. No bum or lunger? He must be all right?" "Bum? Lunger? Say, didn't I tell you I shook hands with this boy an' was plumb glad to meet him?" demanded Laddy, with considerable heat. Manifestly he had been affronted. "Tom Beldin', he's a gentleman, an' he could lick you in--in half a second. How about that, Jim?" "Less time," replied Lash. "Tom, here's my stand. Young Gale can have my hoss, my gun, anythin' of mine." "Aw, I didn't mean to insult you, boys, don't mistake me," said Belding. "Course he's all right." The object of this conversation lay quiet upon his bed, thrilling and amazed at being so championed by the cowboys, delighted with Belding's idea of employing him, and much amused with the quaint seriousness of the three. "How's the young man?" called a woman's voice. It was kind and mellow and earnest. Gale heard footsteps on flagstones. "He's asleep yet, wife," replied Belding. "Guess he was pretty much knocked out.... I'll close the door there so we won't wake him." There were slow, soft steps, then the door softly closed. But the fact scarcely made a perceptible difference in the sound of the voices outside. "Laddy and Jim are going to stay," went on Belding. "It'll be like the old Panhandle days a little. I'm powerful glad to have the boys, Nellie. You know I meant to sent to Casita to ask them. We'll see some trouble before the revolution is ended. I think I'll make this young man Gale an offer." "He isn't a cowboy?" asked Mrs. Belding, quickly. "No." "Shore he'd make a darn good one," put in Laddy. "What is he? Who is he? Where did he come from? Surely you must be--" "Laddy swears he's all right," interrupted the husband. "That's enough reference for me. Isn't it enough for you?" "Humph! Laddy knows a lot about young men, now doesn't he, especially strangers from the East?... Tom, you must be careful!" "Wife, I'm only too glad to have a nervy young chap come along. What sense is there in your objection, if Jim and Laddy stick up for him?" "But, Tom--he'll fall in love with Nell!" protested Mrs. Belding. "Well, wouldn't that be regular? Doesn't every man who comes along fall in love with Nell? Hasn't it always happened? When she was a schoolgirl in Kansas didn't it happen? Didn't she have a hundred moon-eyed ninnies after her in Texas? I've had some peace out here in the desert, except when a Greaser or a prospector or a Yaqui would come along. Then same old story--in love with Nell!" "But, Tom, Nell might fall in love with this young man!" exclaimed the wife, in distress.