“You must not mind the way us girls carry on,” she was saying earnestly, “your sister is out here for a good time and Percy is a curiosity to us. We know he is a harmless creature with more money than brains, for didn’t you say so yourself, Sir Jack?” He looked a little sheepish. “Come, now,” she continued, “take us down to see the cowboys, we have a little time before breakfast and your sister is quite interested in Bud Anderson. She thinks he is about right, and I want you to help me in showing her a good time while she stays at the ranch.” He stirred uneasily. “Who is the more interested in Bud, you or Ethel?” He put the question suddenly. They had drawn a short distance away from Ethel and Percy. Josephine remained silent, her fingers busily toying with her handkerchief. “You haven’t answered my question,” he continued relentlessly. “That is for you to find out, Sir Jack,” she answered naively, and broke away from him to join Ethel and Percy. “Come, Ethel, Sir Jack looks real blue and we’re all going down to the corral,” she said. Mason fell into step with Josephine and the girl seemed puzzled by his abstracted manner. “You are looking real gloomy this morning, Sir Jack. Please tell me what is worrying you.” He saw a look of concern come into her eyes. “Well, little Princess, I’ll tell you,” he said gravely. “I wanted to see MacNutt this morning to find out about the Spanish girl’s case. MacNutt had gone to Trader’s Post, so I didn’t find out anything from him. Did you question the girl this morning as you intended to?” “Yes,” Josephine answered, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead of her. “Waneda didn’t tell me anything more than I found out last night, and I think we will have to look to MacNutt to explain the reason of her coming here.” “Of course,” she continued, “I am willing that the girl should stay here just as long as she wants to, if I was sure that she is all right. Anyway, you seem to take a great interest in her.” He looked up at her in surprise. “What makes you think that?” “I should think,” she answered, “that after a girl had brought you a decoy note as she did, that you couldn’t trust her.” “I am still convinced that Waneda didn’t know what that first note contained,” he protested warmly, “and that she had been made a tool by the Ricker faction.” “Your faith is wonderful.” There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice. He felt the sting of it keenly. They were now far in advance of Ethel and Percy. Mason stopped and placed himself in her path. “Josephine,” he spoke rapidly, “I don’t care for Waneda or any girl, only you.” She drew herself up haughtily. “Please let us not continue this subject,” she said, eyeing him coldly, “there is Bud just ahead of us and I wish to talk with him.” Before he could prevent her she had passed swiftly by him while he stood staring blankly after her. “Now, what have I said to offend her?” he demanded angrily of himself.