“Don’t I know it! There’ll be no more of that, though. When I ride him again, which will be to-day or to-morrow, I’ll make certain sure that the straps are O.K. Baby, when I saw that bronc coming for me with his teeth sticking out, I thought I’d never see a cinch strap again! Well, it’s over now--and luckily, thanks to you. Oh-h-h-h, but I’m stiff! Wow! See if you can take the kinks out of my back, will you?” Teddy removed his pajama shirt, and Roy doused him liberally with liniment. Then he kneeded the back muscles vigorously as Teddy lay face downward on the bed. “Uh--uh--have--a--heart! Ouch! What--you--using, anyway? Iron balls? Oof!” “Only my hands, Teddy; only my hands,” Roy said, grinning. “You’ve got to get used to this. Wait, there’s a spot right between the shoulderblades that I haven’t touched. There she is.” “Yow! I’ll say she is! Go--easy! Finished? Thank goodness!” Teddy sat up, blinking. “That was fun for you, wasn’t it? You should have been living in the days of the Inquisition. Bet you could have gotten a job. Let’s see now.” He stretched, cautiously. “By golly, it is better at that! The ache’s mostly gone. Yep, Roy, you’re some doctor!” “Certainly! Had to hurt a little--all good doctors do. Or else the patient doesn’t get his money’s worth. Now you hop into your clothes and we’ll see how much bacon and eggs we can put away. They’ll make you forget your troubles. Come on, I’ll beat you getting dressed.” Teddy, however, refused to race. He said he was in no condition to try for athletic laurels. He took his time, and when he reached the breakfast table Roy had already started on his second course. Mr. Manley smiled as he saw how carefully his son eased himself into the chair. “’Fraid of breakin’ it, Teddy?” “Uh-huh. Can’t bear to see a chair busted. Never forgive myself.” “Broken, Teddy, not busted,” Mrs. Manley corrected gently. “I’m thinking it’s more than the worry over that chair that is bothering you. Would you like to try that trick of standing on your hands for me, Teddy?” Teddy swallowed, and coughed. “Well, Mom, maybe later. I’m hungry now. Norine--” this to the waitress, who was bringing in some more bacon--“will you please ask your mother if she has any corn bread?” Mrs. Moore, the mother of Norine, had been housekeeper and cook at the X Bar X for a number of years. Norine, a young, pretty Irish girl, dimpled and declared that the kitchen was never empty of anything “for the likes of yourself and Mister Roy.” The corn bread, very hot, was brought in. “Had something of a jolt last night, I hear, Teddy,” remarked Mrs. Manley, after Teddy had helped himself to the corn bread. “Huh? Oh--Who told you anything about it, Mom?” “Do you really think much goes on concerning my children that I do not know about?” and Mrs. Manley laughed. Belle Ada looked up from her corn bread and syrup. “Then there’s me, Teddy. Don’t you suppose that I know all that goes on on this ranch?”