* * * * * It was nearly ten o'clock when Sing Pete stopped the grub-wagon at the bunk-house; Pedro wrangled the saddle cavallard into the pasture below the barn; Parker and the cowboys jogged their bronchos to the stable door and the Ramblin' Kid, riding the Gold Dust maverick--Captain Jack at her heels--rode to the circular corral, jerked the saddle from the filly's back and turned the little roan stallion and the outlaw mare inside the corral. Old Heck and Skinny heard the commotion and went out to where Parker and the cowboys were unsaddling their horses. "Well, you got through, did you?" Old Hack questioned casually. "Yes," Parker replied, "we've got the beef critters in I guess--they're in the upland pasture. There are seven hundred and ninety, I think it is, that'll do for the market." "That's pretty good," Old Heck answered with satisfaction. "We'll push them right on into Eagle Butte to-morrow or next day and ship them. The cars will be in to-night, the agent said. I'm sending them to Chicago this time. I'd like to see you, private, a minute, Parker!" he finished abruptly. "What do you want?" Parker asked suspiciously, as he followed Old Heck around the corner of the barn. "It's about Ophelia--" Old Heck began. Parker's heart leaped and then dropped with a sickening foreboding of something disagreeable. The widow, he thought instantly, had told Old Heck about that darned fool proposal of marriage and was going to insist on him coming across and making good! There was no way out. "I--I--reckon I'll have to do it if she's determined," Parker stuttered; "but--aw, hell--I must have been crazy--" "Who's determined on what?" Old Heck asked, puzzled by the queer jumble coming from the lips of the Quarter Circle KT foreman, "and how crazy?" "Ophelia determined on marrying me!" Parker blurted out. "Ophelia marry _you_?" Old Heck exclaimed. "Marry you! She can't! Her and me have already done it. We got married to-day--that was what I wanted to tell you!" Momentarily a pang of regret shot through Parker's heart. It was quickly followed by a sense of relief. "You--you--and Ophelia married?" he stammered. "We sure are," Old Heck answered positively. "We done it to-day!" Suddenly Parker determined to "cover up." "My, lord!" he half-groaned, pretending terrible grief, "this is awful! It--it--come so sudden--but there ain't no hard feelings, Old Heck! I--I--wish you both joy and happiness!" "Darned if that ain't white of you, Parker!" Old Heck exclaimed, immensely relieved. "I won't forget it! When you and the boys take them steers to Chicago, stay over a week or so and have a good time and count it in on expenses!" Parker turned his head and in the darkness winked solemnly at a yellow star above the peak of Sentinel Mountain. He and Old Heck started toward the house.