“And not for yourself?” asked Ned, slyly. “Why, I’d be glad if he’d back me in something. Developing my ranch into wheat land, for instance. Money lies that way, I believe. But it takes two or three years to get going and lots of money for machinery. Can’t raise wheat out there in a small way. It means tractors, and gangplows and all such things. Whew! no use thinking of that now,” and Garry heaved a final sigh. He had not asked Ned to keep the tale to himself; therefore, the family knew the particulars of Garry Knapp’s trouble with his uncle in a short time. It was the one thing needed to make Major Dale, at least, desire to keep in touch with the young Westerner. “I’m not surprised that he looks upon any understanding with Dorothy in the way he does,” the major said to Aunt Winnie. “He is a high-minded fellow—no doubt of it. And I believe he is no namby-pamby. He will go far before he gets through. I’ll prophesy that.” “But, my dear Major,” said his sister, with a rather tremulous smile, “it may be years before such an honorable young man as Garry Knapp will acquire a competence sufficient to encourage him to come after our Dorothy.” “Well—er——” “And they need each other _now_,” went on Mrs. White, with assurance, “while they are young and can get the good of youth and of life itself. Not after their hearts are starved by long and impatient waiting.” “Oh, the young idiot!” growled the major, shaking his head. Aunt Winnie laughed, although there was still a tremor in her voice. “You call him high-minded and an idiot——” “He is both,” growled Major Dale. “Perhaps, to be cynical, one might say that in this day and generation the two attributes go together! I—I wish I knew the way out.” “So do I,” sighed Mrs. White. “For Dorothy’s sake,” she added. “For both their sakes,” said the major. “For, believe me, this young man isn’t having a very good time, either.” Tavia wished she might “cut the Gordian knot,” as she expressed it. Ned would have gladly shown Garry a way out of the difficulty. And Dorothy Dale could do nothing! “What helpless folk we girls are, after all,” she confessed to Tavia. “I thought I was being so bold, so brave, in getting Garry to come East. I believed I had solved the problem through father’s aid. And look at it now! No farther toward what I want than before.” “Garry Knapp is a—a chump!” exclaimed Tavia, with some heat. “But a very lovable chump,” added Dorothy, smiling patiently. “Oh, dear! It must be his decision, not mine, after all. I tell you, even the most modern of girls are helpless in the end. The man decides.” Nat came back to North Birchland in haste. It needed only a word—even from his brother—to bring him. Perhaps he would have met Tavia as though no misunderstanding had arisen between them had she been willing to ignore their difficulty.