Part 38 (2/2)

”Nope. I was just makin' that up.”

”That's just Dorothy,” said Bronson.

Lorry turned and gazed at him. And without knowing how it came about, Lorry understood that there had been another Dorothy who had played and sung and danced in the suns.h.i.+ne. And that this sprightly, slender girl was a bud of that vanished flower, a bud whose unfolding Bronson watched with such deep solicitude.

Chapter XXII

_A Tune for Uncle Bud_

Lorry had ridden to Jason, delivered his reports to the office, and received instructions to ride to the southern line of the reservation.

He would be out many days. He had brought down a pack-horse, and he returned to camp late that night with provisions and some mail for the Bronsons.

The next day he delayed starting until Dorothy had appeared. Bronson told him frankly that he was sorry to see him go, especially for such a length of time.

”But I'm glad,” said Dorothy.

Lorry stared at her. Her face was grave, but there was a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. She laughed.

”Because it will be such fun welcoming you home again.”

”Oh, I thought it might be that piano--”

”Now I shan't touch it!” she pouted, making a deliberate face at him.

He laughed. She did such unexpected things, did them so unaffectedly.

Bronson put his arms about her shoulders.

”We're keeping Mr. Adams, Peter Pan. He is anxious to be off. He has been ready for quite a while and I think he has been waiting till you appeared so that he could say good-bye.”

”Are you anxious to be off?” she queried.

”Yes, ma'am. It's twenty miles over the ridge to good gra.s.s and water.”

”Why, twenty miles isn't so far!”

”They's considerable up and down in them twenty miles, Miss Bronson.

Now, it wouldn't be so far for a turkey. He could fly most of the way.

But a horse is different, and I'm packin' a right fair jag of stuff.”

”Well, good-bye, ranger man. Good-bye, Gray Leg,--and you two poor horses that have to carry the packs. Don't stay away all winter.”

Lorry swung up and started the pack-horses. At the edge of the timber he turned and waved his hat. Dorothy and her father answered with a hearty Good-bye that echoed through the slumbering wood lands.

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