The day was merging into dusk, or the colonel probably would have been aware that a man was hastening after him along the leaf-strewn walk as he passed up the avenue to his home. He was not many rods behind the colonel, and was gaining on him rapidly, when the crabbed old gentleman closed his office door softly behind him. The unmilitary visitor--this fact was betrayed by both his gait and his dress--turned sharply in upon the private walk and followed the colonel to his door. He was turning through the letters and telegrams which had arrived during his absence when the visitor laid hand to the bell. No sound of ringing followed this application to the thumbscrew arrangement on the door, for the colonel had taken the bell away long ago. But there resulted a clucking, which brought the colonel to the portal frowning and alert, warming in the expectation of having somebody whom he might dress down at last. "Colonel Landcraft, I beg the favor of a word in private," said the stranger at the door. The colonel opened the door wider, and peered sharply at the visitor, a frown gathering on his unfriendly face. "I haven't the honor"--he began stiffly, seeing that it was an inferior civilian, for all civilians, except the president, were inferior to the colonel. "Macdonald is my name. I am a rancher in this country; you will have heard of me," the visitor replied. "Nothing to your credit, young man," said the colonel, tartly. "What do you want?" "A man's chance," said Macdonald, earnestly. "Will you let me explain?" Colonel Landcraft stood out of the doorway; Macdonald entered. "I'll make a light," said the colonel, lowering the window-shades before he struck the match. When he had the flame of the student's lamp on top of his desk regulated to conform to his exactions, the colonel faced about suddenly. "I am listening, sir." "At the beginning, sir, I want you to know who I am," said Macdonald, producing papers. "My father, Senator Hampden Macdonald of Maine, now lives in Washington. You have heard of him. I am Alan Macdonald, late of the United States consular service. It is unlikely that you ever heard of me in that connection." "I never heard of you before I came here," said the colonel, unfavorably, unfolding the credentials which the visitor had placed on his desk, and skimming them with cursory eye. Now he looked up from his reading with a sudden little jerk of the head, and stood at severe attention. "And the purpose of this visit, sir?" "First, to prove to you that the notorious character given me by the cattlemen of this country is slanderous and unwarranted; secondly, to ask you to give me a man's chance, as I have said, in a matter to which I shall come without loss of words. I am a gentleman, and the son of a gentleman; I do not acknowledge any moral or social superiors in this land."