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"Reckon I want to be, Ellen," he returned, nodding his shaggy head "It ain't easy to be fond of you as I am an' keep my mouth shet I'd like to know soo to till this fight's over?"

"No All I have, so far as I know, are right heah"

"How aboot friends?"

"Uncle John, I have none," she said, sadly, with bowed head

"Wal, wal, I'it away"

She lifted her face "Shore y'u don't think I'd run off if ht?" she flashed

"I hope you will"

"I'ain

Sprague nodded glooly swayed by affection for her

"Would you go aith me?" he asked "We could pack over to the Mazatzals an' live thar till this blows over"

"Thank y'u, Uncle John Y'u're kind and good But I'll stay with ht hev reckoned so Ellen, how do you stand on this hyar sheep an' cattle question?"

"I think what's fair for one is fair for another I don't like sheep as e is free Suppose y'u had cattle and I had sheep I'd feel as free to run ht But what if you throwed your sheep round rass so my cattle would hev to move or starve?"

"Shore I wouldn't throw e," she declared, stoutly

"Wal, you've answered half of the question An' now supposin' a lot of le one of your sheep What 'd you think then?"

"I'd shore think rustlers chose to steal cattle because there was no profit in stealin' sheep"

"Egzactly But wouldn't you hev a queer idee aboot it?"

"I don't know Why queer? What 're y'u drivin' at, Uncle John?"

"Wal, wouldn't you git kind of a hunch thet the rustlers was--say a leetle friendly toward the sheep shock The blood rushed to her te all over, she rose

"Uncle John!" she cried