She took his opening so eagerly that he smiled, at which her color mounted again. “If y’u like. What shall I read?” “Some more of Barrie’s books, if y’u don’t mind. When a fellow is weak as a kitten he sorter takes to things that are about kids.” Nora came in and cleared away the supper things. She was just beginning to wash them when McWilliams and Denver dropped into the kitchen by different doors. Each seemed surprised and disappointed at the presence of the other. Nora gave each of them a smile and a dishcloth. “Reddy, he’s shavin’ and Frisco’s struggling with a biled shirt—I mean with a necktie,” Denver hastily amended. “They’ll be along right soon, I shouldn’t wonder.” “Y’u better go tell the boys Miss Nora don’t want her kitchen littered up with so many of them,” suggested his rival. “Y’u’re foreman here. I don’t aim to butt into your business, Mac,” grinned back the other, polishing a tea plate with the towel. “I want to get some table linen over to Lee Ming to-night,” said Nora, presently. “Denver, he’ll be glad to take it for y’u, Miss Nora. He’s real obliging,” offered Mac, generously. “I’ve been in the house all day, so I need a walk. I thought perhaps one of you gentlemen—” Miss Nora looked from one to the other of them with deep innocence. “Sure, I’ll go along and carry it. Just as Mac says, I’ll be real pleased to go,” said Denver, hastily. Mac felt he had been a trifle precipitate in his assumption that Nora did not intend to go herself. Lee Ming had established a laundry some half mile from the ranch, and the way thereto lay through most picturesque shadow and moonlight. The foreman had conscientious scruples against letting Denver escort her down such a veritable lovers’ lane of romantic scenery. “I don’t know as y’u ought to go out in the night air with that cold, Denver. I’d hate a heap to have y’u catch pneumony. It don’t seem to me I’d be justified in allowin’ y’u to,” said the foreman, anxiously. “You’re _that_ thoughtful, Mac. But I expect mebbe a little saunter with Miss Nora will do my throat good. We’ll walk real slow, so’s not to wear out my strength.” “Big, husky fellows like y’u are awful likely to drop off with pneumony. I been thinkin’ I got some awful good medicine that would be the right stuff for y’u. It’s in the drawer of my wash-stand. Help yourself liberal and it will surely do y’u good. Y’u’ll find it _in a bottle_.” “I’ll bet it’s good medicine, Mac. After we get home I’ll drop around. In the washstand, y’u said?” “I hate to have y’u take such a risk,” Mac tried again. “There ain’t a bit of use in y’u exposing yourself so careless. Y’u take a hot footbath and some of that medicine, Denver, then go right straight to bed, and in the mo’ning y’u’ll be good as new. Honest, y’u won’t know yourself.” “Y’u got the _best_ heart, Mac.” Nora giggled. “Since I’m foreman I got to be a mother to y’u boys, ain’t I?”