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smile。 Isn't this square； waiting for you； and telling you the whole truth？ I
never saw her but once； and that was from this same hill。 She didn't know
I was watching； it was yesterday。 Maybe all I'm saying sounds just crazy
to you； and I reckon I am out of my senses； but until I saw her I didn't
know how heart…sick I was of the whole business。〃
〃It IS kinder lonesome；〃 remarked the other gruffly。 He lowered his
gun and leaned on it； irresolutely。 〃You've sure touched me in the right
spot； son； for I knows all you mean and more that you ain't even ever
dreampt of。 But you see； we don't know nothing about your name； your
character； if you've got one； nor what you really intends。 I like your looks
and the way you talk； fine； just fine； but I've saw bobcats that was mighty
sleek and handsome when they didn't know I was nigh。〃
〃My name in Wilfred Compton。 II have a letter or two in my pocket
that I got a long time ago； they'd tell something about me but I'd rather not
show 'em； as they're private〃
〃From your gal； I reckon？〃 asked Willock more mildly。
〃Yes；〃 he answered gloomily。
〃Carried 'em as long as a year？〃
〃Nearly two years。〃
〃Mean to still lug 'em around？〃
〃Of course I'm going to keep 'em。〃
〃Well； I don't deny THAT'S pretty favorable。 Now look here； son； I've
been half…crazy from lonesomeness； and I don't believe I've got the heart
to send you away。 That gal of oursshe's just a kid； you understand。。。。
Now you wouldn't be taking up no idea that she was what you'd classify as
a young lady； or anything like that； eh？〃
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〃Of course notshe's fifteen or sixteen； I should think。 Upon my honor；
Willock； any thought of sentiment or romance is a thousand miles from
my mind。〃
〃Yes； just so。 But such thoughts travels powerful fast； don't take 'em
long to lap over a thousand mile。〃
〃But it's because she IS a young girl； fresh and unartificial as the
mountain breezes； that I want to be with her for a little whileyes； get to
know her； if I may。〃
Willock turned to the taciturn old man standing a little behind him。
〃Bill Atkins； what do you say？〃
〃I say； fire him and do it quick！〃 was the instant rejoinder；
accompanied by threatening twitchings of the huge white mustache。
Willock was not convinced。 〃Son； if you sets here till we have had our
breakfast； and has held a caucus over you； I'll bring you the verdict in
about an hour。 If you don't like that； they's nothing to do but put out for
your ranch。〃
〃I go on duty at seven；〃 replied the young man composedly； 〃but I
have a friend riding the line that'll stay with it till I come。 So I'll wait for
your caucus。〃
〃That friendone of them devils I shot at the other day？〃
Wilfred Compton smiled with sudden sunniness。 〃Yes。〃
Somewhere beneath the immense whiskers； an answering smile
slipped like a breeze； stirring the iron…gray hair。 〃I kinder believe in you；
son！ Nobody can't gainsay that you've played the man in this matter。 Now；
just one thing more。 You must swear here before me； with Bill Atkins for
an unwilling witness； that should we let you make the acquaintance of our
little gal； and should you get to be friends； you two； that the very fust
minute it comes to you that she ain't no little gal； but is in the way of being
food for loveBill Atkins； air I making myself plain？〃
〃You ain't；〃 returned the old man sourly。 〃You're too complicated for
ordinary use。〃
〃Then YOU tell him what I mean。〃
The old man glared at Wilfred fiercely。 〃If we decide to grant your
request； young man； swear on your honor that the second you find yourself
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thinking of our little girl as a WOMAN； to be wooed and won； you'll put
out； and never stop till you're so far away； you'll be clear out of her world。
And not one word to her； not so much as one hint； mind you； as to the
reason of your going； it'll just be good…by and farewell！〃
〃You see；〃 Willock interpolated； 〃she is nothing a little gal； and we
don't want no foolish ideas to the contrary。 You takes her for what she is；
nothing took from nor added to。 In course； she'll be growed up some day； I
reckon； though may the good Lord take a good long time finishing up the
work He's begun so noble。 When she's growed up； when she's a woman； it
ain't for us to say how you come and how you go； take from or add to。 But
while she's a kid； it is different； according。〃
〃You have my word of honor to all these conditions；〃 Wilfred cried
lightly。 〃As a child of the mountains I ask for her acquaintance。 If I should
ever feel differently about her； I'll go away and stay away until she's a
woman。 Surely that's enough to promise！〃
〃There ain't too much to promise； when it comes to the peace and
happiness of our little girl；〃 retorted the old man； 〃but I can't think of any
more for you to take oath to。〃
〃Me nuther； Bill；〃 agreed Willock。 〃Seems to me the young man is
bound as firm as humans can do the binding。 Now you sit right here； son；
don't come a step nigher the house； and we'll go to breakfast； and later
you'll know whether or not all this promising has been idle waste of time。〃
〃But I can see how it'll turn out；〃 growled Atkins； 〃for she is always a…
looking for something new； something out of the big world that she don't
know nothing about。〃
〃Never mind； Bill； don't give up so quick；〃 Willock reproached him； as
they turned away。 〃She's been having a good look at him all this time； and
it may be she have took a distaste to him already。〃
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CHAPTER XI
THE HALF…OPENED BUD
The two men went into the cabin。 An hour later they reappeared；
accompanied by the girl。 Wilfred was still seated obediently on the rock；
but at sight of them he rose with a gay laugh and advanced。
〃Come over here in the shade；〃 Willock called； as he strode toward a
grassy bank that sloped up to a line of three cedar trees of