“I know you don’t, honey,” drawled Captain Coudray, a twinkle in his eyes. “There aint a nicer boy in the State. He’s got him a mighty good range, too. Some day he’ll have his company, I bet you.” “I don’t see why you are telling me,” Elaine said haughtily. “I haven’t the slightest interest in--either what he is or what he has!” “Yessum,” said Ranger Captain Coudray, stepping aside so that Elaine could precede him in the bank, “I’d bet me a lot of money that you--” Elaine hadn’t waited to hear the rest of it, but with her patrician little nose well in the air was halfway to the banking counter. * * * * * Lieutenant John Webb was standing in front of a long glass frankly admiring the fit of a tunic on which was spread the silver wings of a flyer. “Hey, Lainy,” he said, without turning around, “is that a wrinkle up there by the collar? Come on over and take a look.” “It isn’t,” answered Elaine lazily from the couch. “I can see from here. Boy, it fits you like the paper on the wall. I can--” “You can like fun. Get off’n that couch before I come over and trun yez off. This is an important matter.” “Oh, for Pete’s sake,” said Miss Webb inelegantly. “I’m halfway through this story, and what between you and the rest of the infants around here asking me how their uniforms fit, I’ll never finish it. It isn’t a wrinkle, I tell you.” But she rose just the same and came to the mirror. “See,” she went on, “it fits smooth--except right here.” “Ouch! Quit it, you darn’ monkey! Gee, you shouldn’t tickle anyone like that without warning. I’ll--” “Take that in payment for making me get up,” answered Elaine. “Jack, did you ever meet this Bud Yancey I told you about?” “No, not Bud. I’ve met Jimmy and Wes--they’re his cousins, I guess. All the Yanceys down here are related. Man, you ought to see Jimmy’s sister Betty. She’s one lovely piece of work. I’ve seen ’em under every flag that flies, and she’s the starweno.” “Yes?” scoffed Elaine. “So you have fallen for a Texas beauty after all your fussiness? Remember who you are, young feller.” “That’s just it,” answered her brother. “I got as much chance as a jackrabbit, ding it.” “What! You--a Webb--and you haven’t any chance? Does she know who you are, darling?” Her brother eyed her suspiciously. “What are you trying to do--kid me?” he demanded. “The Yanceys were cattle barons and governors of Texas back in the days when the Webbs were running around barefooted peddling fish, you poor prune! Money doesn’t count for anything down here. It’s what you weigh and how you can stand up to it in Texas--” “Down by the Rio Grande,” sang Elaine gayly. “So the proud and haughty Yanceys scorn the poor Webbs, do they? Never mind, Johnny; we’ll make them--” “I’ve told you nine million times not to call me that,” said her brother hotly. “I’m going to try out that new 5N bus that came in this morning. Want to go along?”