"He's very friendly," she told her father. "He will play and chase sticks and growl, and pretend to bite when I tickle him, but he does it all with a kind of mental reservation. Yesterday, when we were having our regular frolic after breakfast, he stopped suddenly and stood looking out across the mesa, and it was only my pony, just coming from the edge of the woods. Bondsman tries to be polite, but he is really just passing the time while he is waiting for Mr. Shoop." "You don't feel flattered, perhaps. But don't you admire him all the more for it?" "I believe I do. Poor Bondsman! It's just like being a social pet, isn't it? Have to appear happy whether you are or not." Bondsman knew that she proffered sympathy, and he licked her hand lazily, gazing up at her with bright, unreadable eyes. * * * * * Bud Shoop wasted no time in Stacey. He puffed into the hotel, indecision behind him and a definite object in view. "No use talkin'," he said to Mrs. Adams. "We got to go and take care of Jim. I couldn't get word to Lorry. No tellin' where to locate him just now. Mebby it's just as well. They's a train west along about midnight. Now, you get somebody to stay here till we get back--" "But, Mr. Shoop! I can't leave like this. I haven't a thing ready. Anita can't manage alone." "Well, if that's all, I admire to say that I'll set right down and run this here hotel myself till you get back. But it ain't right, your travelin' down there alone. We used to be right good friends, Annie. Do you reckon I'd tell you to go see Jim if it wa'n't right? If he ever needed you, it's right now. If he's goin' to get well, your bein' there'll help him a pow'ful sight. And if he ain't, you ought to be there, anyhow." "I know it, Bud. I wish Lorry was here." "I don't. I'm mighty glad he's out there where he is. What do you think he'd do if he knowed Jim was shot up?" "He would go to his father--" "Uh-uh?" "And--" "Go ahead. You wa'n't born yesterday." "He would listen to me," she concluded weakly. "Yep. But only while you was talkin'. That boy is your boy all right, but he's got a lot of Jim Waring under his hide. And if you want to keep that there hide from gettin' shot full of holes by a no-account outlaw, you'll just pack up and come along." Bud wiped his forehead, and puffed. This sort of thing was not exactly in his line. "Here's the point, Annie," he continued. "If I get there afore Lorry, and you're there, he won't get into trouble. Mebby you could hold him with your hand on the bridle, but he's runnin' loose right where he is. Can't you get some lady in town to run the place?" "I don't know. I'll see." Bud heaved a sigh. It was noticeably warmer in Stacey than at Jason.