* * * * * Margaret, responding to her brother's exited summons, went to the door and her hands flew to her breast. A wagon, loaded with packages, pulled up at the dilapidated corral and eight rough-looking men, driving a herd of horses, stopped near it. One of them kept on at a walk and approached her. Removing his sombrero, he pulled up and bowed. "Ma'am," he said, slowly and kindly, a smile wreathing his weather-beaten face, from which genial gray eyes twinkled at her; "Ma'am, we have come out to round up for you. We understand that this ranch ain't been combed for three years--an' it shore is time it was. I saw a wire fence north of th' trail: how far does it run?" "Why, why--I didn't know--we were not expecting any round-up. Isn't there some mistake?" she faltered. "I don't reckon there is, Ma'am," Cimarron assured her. "Mr. Nelson was tellin' us about th' SV, an' we all reckoned it was time there was a round-up run over here. You ought to know how many cows you got; an' mebby there's some as should be branded." "I hardly know what to say--how to thank you," Margaret replied. "Won't you come in and speak to father? He doesn't want to leave his bed for a few days more." "Shore, Ma'am," said Cimarron, dismounting and throwing the reins over the head of his horse, and following her into the house. "Father, this is Mr.--Mr.--?" she looked at Cimarron inquiringly. "Quantrell--Cimarron Quantrell," he smiled. "I was born on th' banks of th' Cimarron when they wasn't exactly safe for bein' born on, but our fambly was lucky." "This is my father, Mr. Quantrell," smiled Margaret. "I'll leave you men to talk by yourselves. If you want me, please call." "Arnold," said Cimarron, with simple directness, "we've come out here, nine of us, from th' Double X, to round up for you. Nelson said you hadn't held none in three years, an' we reckoned it was time we was payin' you a neighborly call. When you get an outfit of yore own some day you can give us a hand. By helpin' each other we'll both be helpin' ourselves. How far does that wire fence run, up north of th' house?" "Mr. Quantrell, I don't know how to thank you," replied Arnold "I was growing to think there were no human beings in this country, but I'm beginning to change my mind. Even Doctor Reed has had a change of heart." "Don't you bank on th' Doc changin' his ideas," warned Cimarron. "He come out here because he was made to come. He shore was plain kidnapped that night." "You amaze me! Surely you are mistaken. Who would force him to come here?" "That ain't known," answered Cimarron, "but everybody knows he was forced, all right. Th' fool says so, hisself." "This is astonishing!" "How long did you say that wire was?" "Oh, yes; I forgot It's nearly a mile; why?"