“It’s all in the family,” Sutherland grinned slightly, for the first time in their conversation. “I think a heap of that kid. I don’t aim for her to take no chances if I can help it. Is it a promise?” “Yes,” Robin agreed. “I know I have to attend to my work. But seein’ me once in a while is more her affair than yours, I think. If May wants to have it that way, yes. And only as long as she wants to have it that way.” Sutherland fished a cigar out of his pocket, bit off the end with utmost deliberation. “I’ll give you ten minutes with her,” he said. “You tell her what I said.” Old Adam was still nursing the unlighted cigar when May and Robin came out on the porch ten minutes later, ten minutes precisely by the clock. “Good-by,” Robin said to her. “I’m on my way.” She put her face up to be kissed and Robin kissed her without regard to her male parent. Then she went back into the house. He stood a moment. “You got no particular orders for me, I suppose?” he inquired. “No. I told you to use your own judgment. It’ll be two weeks before beef round-up starts. We’ll see what breaks by then.” Robin went jingling his spurs down the porch steps. At the bottom Sutherland halted him with a word. “Look, kid,” he said. “You keep your eyes peeled for Mark. The minute you think you’ve got him right--you call on Tom Coats. Don’t go takin’ the law into your own hands.” “All right.” Robin smiled to himself. “I guess I won’t do nothin’ rash.” He had not told Sutherland that he already had one of Tom Coats’ men on hand for just such an emergency, nor that he, himself, was clothed in the majesty of such law as Chouteau county afforded. That was his own affair. He rode away, not altogether happy, but fairly hopeful. He had truthfully repeated Sutherland’s ultimatum to May and she had counseled patience. “I know him so well,” she said. “If we defy him he might never forgive us. I think he likes you well enough, Robin. But he has often hinted at ambitious things for me. There was never a man paid me any attention that he approved of. He has always made everything come out the way he wanted and he can’t somehow think of me as a woman with definite ideas of life for herself--only as a little girl that he’s raised. So be patient, Robin. Don’t make me a bone of contention. I will see you now and then, all open and above-board. If in the end we have to take the bit in our teeth, we’ll do so. I’m game. I’d turn my back on anything for you. But if you could be the son he’s never had, it would be better--for all of us.”