"What will Dad say, and Farlane, and Holley, and Van? Oh, I'll crow over Van," said Lucy. "I'm crazy to ride Wildfire out before all the Indians and ranchers and riders, before the races, just to show him off, to make them stare." "No, Lucy. The best plan is to surprise them all. Enter your horse for the race, but don't show up till all the riders are at the start." "Yes, that'll be best.... And, Lin, only five days more--five days!" Her words made Slone thoughtful, and Lucy, seeing that, straightway grew thoughtful, too. "Sure--only five days more," repeated Slone, slowly. His tone convinced Lucy that he meant to speak again as he had spoken once before, precipitating the only quarrel they had ever had. "Does ANY ONE at Bostil's Ford know you meet me out here?" he asked, suddenly. "Only Auntie. I told her the other day. She had been watching me. She thought things. So I told her." "What did she say?" went on Slone, curiously. "She was mad," replied Lucy. "She scolded me. She said.... But, anyway, I coaxed her not to tell on me." "I want to know what she said," spoke up the rider, deliberately. Lucy blushed, and it was a consciousness of confusion as well as Slone's tone that made her half-angry. "She said when I was found out there'd be a--a great fuss at the Ford. There would be talk. Auntie said I'm now a grown-up girl.... Oh, she carried on! ... Bostil would likely shoot you. And if he didn't some of the riders would.... Oh, Lin, it was perfectly ridiculous the way Auntie talked." "I reckon not," replied Slone. "I'm afraid I've done wrong to let you come out here.... But I never thought. I'm not used to girls. I'll--I'll deserve what I get for lettin' you came." "It's my own business," declared Lucy, spiritedly. "And I guess they'd better let you alone." Slone shook his head mournfully. He was getting one of those gloomy spells that Lucy hated. Nevertheless, she felt a stir of her pulses. "Lucy, there won't be any doubt about my stand--when I meet Bostil," said Slone. Some thought had animated him. "What do you mean?" Lucy trembled a little. There was a sternness about Slone, a dignity that seemed new. "I'll ask him to--to let you marry me." Lucy stared aghast. Slone appeared in dead earnest. "Nonsense!" she exclaimed, shortly. "I reckon the possibility is--that," replied Slone, bitterly, "but my motive isn't." "It is. Why, you've known me only a few days.... Dad would be mad. Like as not he'd knock you down.... I tell you, Lin, my dad is--is pretty rough. And just at this time of the races.... And if Wildfire beats the King! ... Whew!" "WHEN Wildfire beats the King, not IF," corrected Slone. "Dad will be dangerous," warned Lucy. "Please don't---don't ask him that. Then everybody would know I--I--you---you--" "That's it. I want everybody at your home to know."