"I've been disappointed in Mr. Conrad," said Louise; "I don't understand how he can talk so recklessly about people needing to be killed. To me it is very repellent. You know how he speaks about Mr. Baxter." Lucy's head went up. "But Mr. Baxter is a very bad man!" she exclaimed. "He has been responsible for a great deal of suffering. Just think of Melgares and his poor wife! But for Mr. Baxter they might still be living happily on their little ranch. And he's done many other things just as wicked and unjust. Oh, he's a very bad man, and I can't blame Mr. Conrad for feeling that way about him." She broke off, flushing to her brows, then went on more quietly: "But I don't think, Dearie, that Mr. Conrad means half he says when he talks that way; it's just his way of feeling how brave he is." "If he does not mean it, he should not speak so recklessly of serious matters," Louise responded with decision. "He must have a cruel nature, or he would not harbor such ideas." Lucy leaned forward, her face aglow. "Indeed, no, Dearie! Mr. Conrad isn't cruel; he's really very tender-hearted--just think of the way he carried that wounded bird all the way to Golden to have its leg fixed. And one day when we were walking on the _mesa_, he was so distressed because he accidentally stepped on a little horned toad. It's unjust to call him cruel, Dearie!" Her glance darted down the street again, and she saw Curtis nearing her gate. His quick, energetic stride and eager face were like a trumpet call to her youth and her womanhood. Forgetting all but the fact of his presence, she felt her heart leap to meet him with joyful welcome. But instantly came remembrance and reaction, and she greeted him with unusual gravity of manner. Conrad wanted them at the ranch for the Fourth of July. "We are to have a big barbecue and _baile_," he said. "Both the Castletons are coming this year to look things over, and I wrote Ned that if Mrs. Ned was coming with him perhaps it would amuse her if we did something of the sort. The idea seemed to just strike his gait, and he wrote back at once to go ahead and whoop it up for all I'm worth. Mrs. Ned and Mrs. Turner are both coming, and I'm asking a lot of people from all over the Territory. I want you two ladies and Mr. Bancroft to be sure to come out the day before the Fourth and stay at least until the day after, and as much longer as you find convenient. My brother Homer is coming on next week for the rest of the Summer, and he'll be there too."