Mrs. Blake patted the plump, sunbrowned hand that she had not yet relinquished. She was little if any older than the girl, but her air was that of matronly wisdom. "My dear, can you doubt it? I was prepared to like even the kind of young woman my husband told me to expect." "Bronco Bess, Queen of the Cattle Camp," suggested the girl, dimpling. "Wait till you see me rope and hogtie a steer." Mrs. Blake smiled, and looked across at Ashton, who sat motionless under the shadow of his big sombrero, his face half averted from the car. "I've a real surprise for you," said the girl. "Mr. Blake, if I may tell it to you also." Blake swung up the steps, hat in hand. "It can't be half as pleasant as the surprise you've already given us," he said. "I fear not," she replied, with a quick change to gravity. She looked earnestly into their faces. "Still, I hope--yes, I really believe it will please you when you consider it. But first, I want to tell you that out here it's our notion that a man should be rated according to his present life, and not blamed for his past mistakes." "Certainly not!" agreed Mrs. Blake, with a swift glance at her husband. "If a man has mounted to a higher level, he should be upheld, not dragged down again." "That's good old-style Western fair play," added Blake. "I'm so glad you take it that way!" said Isobel. "A young man utterly ruined in fortune--partly at least through his own fault--came to us and asked to be hired. He has been a hard worker and a gentleman. His name is Lafayette Ashton." "Ashton?" said Blake, his face as impassive as a granite mask. "Yes. He has told me all about the bridge. He wished to go away, because he thought you and Mrs. Blake would not like to meet him. I told him you would be willing to let bygones be bygones, and help him start off with a new tally card." "Lafayette Ashton working--as a cowboy!" murmured Mrs. Blake. "He is still a good deal of a tenderfoot. But he is learning fast; and work!--the way he pesters Daddy to find him something to do!" "He certainly must be a changed man," dryly commented Blake. "_Cherchez la femme_," said his wife. "Mrs. Blake!" protested the girl, blushing. "What's that?" he asked. "'Find the woman,'" explained Mrs. Blake. "That's easy," he said, fixing his twinkling eyes on the rosy-faced girl. "But I'm sure it has not been because of me--at least not altogether," she qualified with her uncompromising honesty. "I wouldn't blame him even if it was altogether," said Blake. "Then you will be willing to overlook your past trouble with him?" "Since you say he has straightened out--yes." "That's good of you! That's what I expected of you!" exclaimed the girl. "That is he, in the buckboard." Without a word, Blake started down the car steps. "Bring him here at once, Tom," said Mrs. Blake.