"At least I recognized your queenliness, even if at first I did mistake what you were queen of," he thrust back. "So you still insist I'm a queen? Of what, pray?" "Of Hearts!" he answered with fervor. His daring was rewarded with a lovely blush. But she was only momentarily disconcerted. "I am not so sure of that," she replied. "Though it's not Queen of Spades, because I do not have to work; and it can't be Diamonds, because Daddy is no more than comfortably well to do--only six thousand head of stock. But as for Hearts--No, I'm sure it must be Clubs; I do so love to knock around. Really, if ever they break up this range, it will break my heart same time." "Break up the range? How do you mean?" "Put it under irrigation and turn it into orchards and farms, as they have done so many places here on the Western Slope. You know, Colorado apples and peaches are fast becoming famous even in Europe." "I do not wonder, not in the least--if I am to judge from a certain sample of the Colorado peach," he ventured. This time she did not blush. "I am quite serious, Mr. Ashton," she reproved him. "Daddy owns only five sections. The rest of his range is public land. If settlers should come in and homestead it, he would have to quit the cattle business. You cannot realize how fearfully we are watching the irrigation projects--all the Government reclamation work, and the private dams, too. There seems to be no water that can be put on Dry Mesa, yet the engineers are doing such wonderful things these days." Ashton straightened on his saddle. "That is quite true, Miss Knowles. You know, I myself am an engineer." "Oh!" she exclaimed in dismay. "You, an engineer? Have you come here to see if our mesa can be irrigated?" "No, indeed, no, I shall not do that," he replied. "I have not the slightest thought of such a project. I am merely out for sport." She eyed him uncertainly. "But--We get all the reports--There is an Ashton connected with that wonderful Zariba Dam, just being finished in Arizona." "That is my father. He is interested in it with a Mr. Leslie. They are financing the project. But I have nothing to do with it, nothing whatever, I assure you. The engineer is another man, a fellow named--" He paused as if unable to remember. The girl looked at him with a shade of disappointment in her clear eyes. "A Mr. Blake--Thomas Blake," she supplied the name. "I thought you might have known him." "Ah--Blake?" he murmured hesitatingly. "Why, yes, I did at one time have somewhat of an acquaintance with him." "You did?" she cried, her eyes brilliant with excitement. "Oh, tell me! I--" She faltered under his surprised stare, and went on rather lamely: "You see, I--we have been immensely interested in the Zariba Dam. The reports all describe it as an extraordinary work of engineering. And so we have been curious to learn something about the engineer." "But if you're so opposed to irrigation projects?" he thrust.