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"Dad, I reckon I didn't fetch a lot for you an' the boys," continued Jean "Souns"

"Shore, you're a regular Santa Claus, Jean," replied his father "Wal, wal, look at the kids An' look at Mary An' for the land's sake look at Ann! Wal, wal, I'imcracks that mean so much to women We're out of the world heah It's just as well you've lived apart from us, Jean, for coood I cain't say, son, how obliged I am My ood to forget--to see the smiles of the wo man entered the open door He looked a rider All about him, even his face, except his eyes, see, fine, soft, and dark

"How do, y'u-all!" he said, evenly

Ann rose from her knees Then Jean did not need to be told who this newcomer was

"Jean, this is rip and the keen flash of his eyes that he was glad Ann had set her heart upon one of their kind And his second iiven hi lad Colmor's estiies Jean's heart suffered s Could he live up to the character that somehow had forestalled his advent in Grass Valley? Surely life was measured differently here in the Tonto Basin

The children, bundling their treasures to their bosoed off to bed in sohter and voices canificance Jean forthwith had an interested audience How eagerly these lonely pioneer people listened to news of the outside world! Jean talked until he was hoarse In their turn his hearers told him much that had never found place in the few and short letters he had received since he had been left in Oregon Not a word about sheepmen or any hint of rustlers! Jean ht all thewas said Altogether the evening was a happy reunion of a farasped that this fact was one of significant satisfaction to his father