g in the doorway for her turn to be waited upon, she watched him with admiring eyes. "What a handsome man daddy is," she was thinking; "I like a man to be tal

ght ran on. "How slouchy and dumpy he seems beside daddy! They say he's one of the smartest men in the Territory; but I'm sure daddy is j

n the regard of the community, as he stood in the door of his bank and met the Congressman

is gratified and shining countenance. One of these eyes was set at an angle slightly oblique, its peculiarity made more prominent by the loose hanging of the

if the other had yet visited the mine at the base of Ma

at a good proposition he's got. He'll sell cheap for cash, for he needs the money. I think

ut if it's a good thing I'd like to help you get hold of it; I know you'd hustle its development and make all there is in it tell for the reputation of New Mexico. I've got

nce and disappointment he inwardly felt at this prospect of having to increa

more than that out of it. I'm satisfied it's an almighty good proposition and can be mad

ore hustle than any other man I know, and you'll do something worth while with it. Think about it, and we'll talk it over again

ably get the delegates to the convention, and I reckon you'l

rather guess! Why, he's got n

ere are the

ame?-Conrad?-had come out strong in his favor. What do they care about i

erlasting 'cousin' business of the Mexicans. You know Ned Castleto

've heard that the wives of the two brothers fight each other to the limit on every proposition that comes along, and I reckon if Tur

a bagful or two of his loose cash it would make

hat was damn good of you, Aleck, to come out for me as squarely as you did in the Albuquerque Leader the other day! It's a good thing for me, all over the Territor

me one else the prize. This made him anxious about the outcome of the approaching convention, and set him to interrogating the banker

tleton's money is behind Martinez? If it

Baxter's reputation. It came so suddenly and so vividly that it took him unawares, sending a telltale light into his eyes and across his usually impassive countenance. His lids were quickly lowered

t Ned won't have to be mixed up in it. That would take away the chance of Mrs. Turner's trying to make her husband block the game. And Conrad is violently opposed to you. He handles you without glove

ns of the Castleton money. He was wondering why that sudden purpose had flashed in Bancroft's eyes, why he had shown that momentary discomposure, and why he was now dwelling so mu

right, energetic fellow, an

ing about h

hes in southern California. He's been their superintendent at Socorro Springs for two years, and he's put the ranch in

ome from before C

s he's mostly run along with the cattle busine

opposition to me dow

arted out with the intention of doing you up. He'll sure do you a lot of damage if you can't find some way of making him change his mind. He's popular,-the sort that everybody likes, you know,-and he's

old eyes watchful of his companion's manner and expression.

d. I've tried argument, and you

bout m

dn't touch it and he'd roar about it everywhere. The fact is, Dell, we'll have to get rid of

I'm here, and I want to talk with you about a paisano ranch, up above Socorro, there's a chance of our getting. I think we'll

of some of Lucy's freely expressed ideas coming into his mind. "I may prefe

you at its head; your reputation would b

se on a man named Melgares, José M

him; let him have three months' extra time.

e Mogollons, where it's likely he'd been doing some horse-stealing. And I guess he'

m-for nothing. These greasers all seem to think I'm a heaven-sent protector for 'em

a slap on the shoulder, his round, red face aglow with good fellowship. But his gray eyes were cold and preoccupie

hell do you-all reckon Dell Baxter's cookin' up now? He's too jolly not to have somethi

Jack, "or that nomination

ll just worry about the fellow that's made his eyes look l

id not believe was of much consequence. He chuckled and his left lid drooped lower as he finally decided: "I reckon he wants me to pull some chestnut or other out of the fire for him