" You see — down South where I come from the girls all wear white and lace and ribbon sashes and carry para sols and think a lot about their complexions. You're just different."
The herder waved his arm. " Way 'round 'em, Shep," and the sheep began moving.
" Good-bye," the girl gathered up the reins reluctantly.
" You didn't tell me your name."
" Katie Prentice."
" Mine's Hughie Disston," he added, his black eyes shining with friendliness. " Maybe I'll see you again sometime."
She answered shyly :
" Maybe."
Toomey started away at a gallop, calling sharply :
" Come on, Hughie ! "
The boy followed with obvious reluctance, sending a smile over his shoulder when he found that the girl was looking after him.
" Hope you make out all right with your town," said Teeters politely as, ignoring his employer's instructions, he turned his horse's head in a direction of his own choosing.
" No doubt about it," replied the Major, briskly,gathering up the lines and bringing the stub of a whip down with a thwack upon each back impartially. "S'longl! He waved it at the girl and sheepherder. " I trust you'll find a location to suit you."
" Pardner," said Mormon Joe suddenly, when the Major was a blur in a cloud of dust and the horsemen were specks in the distance, " this looks like home to me somehow. There ought to be great sheep feed over there in the foothills and summer range in the mountains. What do you think of it? "
26
