The jokes of the crowd were becoming more and more irritating to him, however, and suddenly he called out, "I'll give twenty-five dollars to any one who'll break that girl's hold on the door there!" "And I'll give fifty swift kicks to any one who tries it!" cried Garnett. "Wouldn't the young lady like a chair?" a voice said at Harry's elbow. Turning, Harry saw Smoot, the hotel clerk, leaning over the railing of the porch with a chair in his hand. "That's good of you!" she exclaimed gratefully. "I didn't realize how tired I am." "Hungry, too, I guess," suggested Smoot. "If you're going to stick it out all night, you'll need some good chuck to hold you." "I expect I shall," agreed Harry with a tired little laugh. "Say, Smoot," suggested Rob, "can't you go over to Kenny's and tell 'em to send round a tray of grub?" "All right. Anything in particular you'd like, Miss Holliday?" "A gallon or two of water; I'm so thirsty! But don't you want to eat your own suppers?" she said, turning to Rob and Garnett. "Shucks! We don't care when we eat," Garnett assured her. "We'll starve out this bunch first, anyhow." Then, in a lower tone, he added, "When Joyce sees you're game, he'll let up." "I guess I'm game." "Of course you are. I saw it that first time I spoke to you. Remember?" "On the train?" She laughed. "Indeed I do. And you told me I'd stay. Honestly, I didn't expect to then." "No, you didn't. But you stick to what you tackle. I kind of felt that once you'd camped in Idaho it'd get a strangle hold on you somehow." "Well, it has. Any one seeing me hanging to a doorknob all night must realize that I like Idaho pretty well." She shivered involuntarily as she spoke. "You're half froze. As soon as they come with that grub we'll send for a blanket." "There comes the food now. And Mrs. Kenny. Isn't she the best, though? And I look like--I don't know what." "Like a sure-enough fighter, and that's just what Mrs. Kenny likes." The sun had set and it was beginning to grow chilly. Most of the crowd were drifting away. With a pot of coffee in one hand, a basket of food in the other, and a big shawl over her arm, Mrs. Kenny came sailing down the street, exchanging pungent remarks with the townsfolk as she passed; she was much like a frigate going to the rescue with guns unmasked. "For the land sakes, girlie," she exclaimed, "is it really you? Well, you're the right stuff! Howdy, Joyce? Looks like you wasn't in this deal. How about it?" "It's early yet," answered Joyce sourly. "Wait till four o'clock to-morrow morning." "And if I ain't a heap sight duller than I think, you'll be some tired yourself by that time, settin' all night on the hard side of that stair-step. Better go git you some supper, you and the new herder you got there." Joyce growled something unintelligible in reply. He held a low-toned conversation with the herder, and after a moment they walked away.