Just then Terry came up and another handshaking took place between the cowboy and him. Terry and Tom seemed to be highly pleased at meeting each other. When Tom learned that Evelyn was down there he exclaimed: "Good heavens, Mr. Terry, I want to see her, and get down on my knees to her, for if there ever was an angel on earth, she is that one." Both Fred and Terry laughed, and the latter informed him that here were two other young ladies down there from Crabtree. "Look here, boss," said Tom, "I heard up at Crabtree that four cattle thieves had been strung up down here yesterday. Is that so?" "Yes, Tom; but we had nothing to do with that part of the affair." The other cowboys were standing at the other end of the porch, and heard Fred engage the newcomer, and that, too, after refusing to employ any of them. Their faces showed plainly their disgust, and not to say dissatisfaction, and the big six-foot fellow went up to Fred and again applied for employment, saying that he couldn't find a better cowboy in the whole State than he was, and that he could get references to prove it. "See here, my friend," said Fred, "you may be all that you claim, and I hope that you are: but really I want to be convinced of that fact before I take you on our force." "Boss, set me to work at once, and you needn't pay me a cent until after you learn that I am all that I claim to be." "No, sir. A man can't work ten minutes for me without pay; so just leave your address here at the store, and I'll notify you if I want you." "Why, boss, you have just taken on a new man, and that, too, after refusing to employ any of those in my party. Do you call that fair play?" "Yes, for I know this man personally. He has been in my employ before, and I was satisfied with his work." The fellow turned away, growing threateningly and the party went inside the store, and there held a consultation. Tom and Fred and Terry went over to the house, where the ladies were, and Evelyn, as soon as she saw him, recognized him, and exclaimed: "Why, there's Tom Hecker." Tom instantly doffed his hat and stood, bowing and smiling, as if highly pleased at her recognition of him. "Tom," said she, advancing out on the piazza, "come here; I want to shake hands with you, for you were of great service to me on several occasions up in Colorado." Tom advanced, too, and she extended her hand to him. He appeared to be supremely happy. She didn't, of course, introduce him to the two young ladies, for she resented their social positions. But she did remark to them, in his hearing, that he was one of her brother's most faithful cowboys on the old Colorado ranch, and that he was as brave as he was faithful. She asked Tom when he had seen Wicklow and his wife, and he replied that he hadn't seen them for over a month, that the old force had been pretty well scattered, and that the old ranch had been divided up into three ranches, as three different individuals had bought it.