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Virginia to find it in ruins； his slaves freed and his fields mortgaged。 He
had pulled himself together for another start； and had practiced law in the
little town where his family had lived for generations。 Of his two sons； one
was a ne'er…do…well。 He was one of those brilliant fellows of whom much
is expected that never develops。 He had a taste for low company； married
beneath him； and； after a career that was a continual mortification and
humiliation to his father； was killed in a drunken brawl under disgraceful
circumstances； leaving behind a son named for the general。 The second
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son of General Bannister also died young； but not before he had proved his
devotion to his father by an exemplary life。 He； too； was married and left
an only son； also named for the old soldier。 The boys were about of an age
and were well matched in physical and mental equipment。 But the general；
who had taken them both to live with him； soon discovered that their
characters were as dissimilar as the poles。 One grandson was frank；
generous； open as the light； the other was of a nature almost degenerate。 In
fact； each had inherited the qualities of his father。 Tales began to come to
the old general's ears that at first he refused to credit。 But eventually it was
made plain to him that one of the boys was a rake of the most
objectionable type。
There were many stormy scenes between the general and his grandson；
but the boy continued to go from bad to worse。 After a peculiarly flagrant
case； involving the character of a respectable young girl； young Ned
Bannister was forbidden his ancestral home。 It had been by means of his
cousin that this last iniquity of his had been unearthed； and the boy had
taken it to his grandfather in hot indignation as the last hope of protecting
the reputation of the injured girl。 From that hour the evil hatred of his
cousin； always dormant in the heart； flamed into active heat。 The disowned
youth swore to be revenged。 A short time later the general died； leaving
what little property he had entirely to the one grandson。 This stirred again
the bitter rage of the other。 He set fire to the house that had been willed his
cousin； and took a train that night for Wyoming。 By a strange irony of fate
they met again in the West years later； and the enmity between them was
renewed； growing every month more bitter on the part of the one who
called himself the King of the Bighorn Country。
She broke the silence after his story with a gentle 〃Thank you。 I can
understand why you don't like to tell the story。〃
〃I am very glad of the chance to tell it to you；〃 he answered。
〃When you were delirious you sometimes begged some one you called
Ned not to break his mother's heart。 I thought then you might be speaking
to yourself as ill people do。 Of course I see now it was your cousin that
was on your mind。〃
〃When I was out of my head I must have talked a lot of nonsense；〃 he
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suggested； in the voice of a question。 〃I expect I had opinions I wouldn't
have been scattering around so free if I'd known what I was saying。〃
He was hardly prepared for the tide of color that swept her cheeks at
his words nor for the momentary confusion that shuttered the shy eyes
with long lashes cast down。
〃Sick folks do talk foolishness； they say；〃 he added； his gaze trained on
her suspiciously。
〃Do they？〃
〃Mrs。 Winslow says I did。 But when I asked her what it was I said she
only laughed and told me to ask y'u。 Well； I'm askin' now。〃
She became very busy over the teapot。 〃You talked about the work at
your ranchsheep dipping and such things。〃
〃Was that all？〃
〃No； about lots of other thingsfootball and your early life。 I don't see
what Mrs。 Winslow meant。 Will you have some more tea？〃
〃No； thank y'u。 I have finished。 Yes； that ce'tainly seems harmless。 I
didn't know but I had been telling secrets。〃 Still his unwavering eyes
rested quietly on her。
〃Secrets？〃 She summoned her aplomb to let a question rest lightly in
the face she turned toward him； though she was afraid she met his eyes
hardly long enough for complete innocence 〃Why； yes； secrets。〃 He
measured looks with her deliberately before he changed the subject； and
he knew again the delightful excitement of victory。 〃Are y'u going to read
to me this evening？〃
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 shirtI mean
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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
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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？〃 〃Y'u're
liable to be a grandmother to us if y'u keep on；〃 came back the young
giant。
〃Y'u plumb discourage me； Denver；〃 sighed the foreman。
〃No； sir！ The way I look at it； a fellow's got to take some risk。 Now；
y'u cayn't tell some things。 I figure I ain't half so likely to catch pneumony
as y'u would be to get heart trouble if y'u went walking with Miss Nora；〃
returned Denver。
A