There was energy in every line of her body and Ophelia gave Old Heck, the embarrassed owner of the Quarter Circle KT, more thrills in that one moment of silent scrutiny than he ever before had felt in the presence of any woman. As they looked, Skinny and Old Heck instinctively, a bit awkwardly perhaps, removed the Stetsons they wore on their heads. "Howdy-do!" Old Heck finally managed to say. Skinny gulped like an echo, another "Howdy-do!" in the direction of Carolyn June. "I reckon you are Carolyn June and Missus Ophelia Cobb," Old Heck stammered "Which one of you is which?" unconsciously paying tribute to the well preserved youthfulness of the widow. "Oh, Ophelia, beware!" Carolyn June laughed, not in the least offended; "the gay old rascal is at it already!" "He didn't mean nothing" Skinny interposed, sensing that Old Heck some way had made a blunder. "I guess you must be Carolyn June?" looking questioningly at the girl. "Excuse me," Old Heck said, "I'm your uncle, I suppose, and this is Skinny Rawlins--" "Howdy-do; I'm glad to meet you," Skinny muttered, reaching for the hand Carolyn June frankly extended. "I'm glad, too," she replied candidly; "and this is Mrs. Ophelia Cobb--just Ophelia--Uncle Josiah," Carolyn added, turning to Old Heck who clumsily shook hands with the widow while his weather-tanned face flushed a burning, uncomfortably red. "We was expecting you," he said, retaining life hold on her hand. "That was very kind," Ophelia murmured. "I am sure we are delighted to be here." "Now I guess we are all acquainted," Carolyn June said with a little laugh. "It's easy for folks to get acquainted, isn't it?" turning suddenly to Skinny. "Seems like it after they once get started," Skinny answered. "We'd better be heading for home I reckon," Old Heck said, releasing at last the widow's hand and lifting the bags in the car. "Sing Pete will have dinner ready by the time we get there." "We have some trunks," Carolyn June said, "can we take them with us?" "Yes," Old Heck replied, "get in, and we'll drive over to the depot and get them." With Carolyn June and Ophelia in the rear seat and Skinny and himself in the front Old Heck drove the car across to the station and the trunks were fastened with ropes on the hood of the engine and running-boards of the car. As they started away Carolyn June asked: "Which way now, Uncle Josiah?" "Out to the ranch." "Hadn't we better stop at the drug store," she asked soberly, "and get some medicine?" "Medicine? Who for?" Old Heck inquired innocently. "Why, the patients, of course," Carolyn June answered with a mischievous chuckle. "What patients?" "Out at the Quarter Circle KT where that epidemic of smallpox is raging!" she answered sweetly. "That's all a mistake," Old Heck said hastily; "we thought is was smallpox but it wasn't--" "No, everybody's got over it," Skinny added nervously; "they're all cured!"