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hell！〃
〃I knowI heard it all； soon as I hit the ranch；〃 Andy replied
weakly； standing up and wiping his eyes。 〃I just thought I'd
learn 'em a lessonand the way you played upsay； my hat's off
to you； all right！〃
〃One learns to seize opportunities without stuttering；〃 Miguel
observed calmlyand a queer look came into his eyes as they
rested upon the face of Andy。 〃And； if the chance comes； I'll do
as much for you。 By the way； did you see the saddle those Arizona
boys sent me？ It's over here。 It's a pip…pinalmost as fine as
the spurs； which I keep in the bunk…house when they're not on my
heels。 And； if I didn't say so before； I'm sure glad to meet the
man that helped me through that alley。 That big； fat devil would
have landed me； sure； if you hadn't〃
〃Ahwhat？〃 Andy leaned and peered into the face of Miguel； his
jaw hanging slack。 〃You don't mean to tell meit's true？〃
〃True？ Why； I thought you were the fellow〃 Miguel faced him
steadily。 His eyes were frankly puzzled。
〃I'll tell you the truth； so help me；〃 Andy said heavily。 〃I
don't know a darned thing about it； only what I read in the
papers。 I spent the whole winter in Colorado and Wyoming。 I was
just joshing the boys。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Miguel。
They stood there in the dusk and silence for a space； after which
Andy went forth into the night to meditate upon this thing。
Miguel stood and looked after him。
〃He's the real goods when it comes to lyingbut there are
others；〃 he said aloud； and smiled a peculiar smile。 But for all
that he felt that he was going to like Andy very much indeed。
And； since the Happy Family had shown a disposition to make him
one of themselves； he knew that he was going to become quite as
foolishly attached to the Flying U as was even Slim； confessedly
the most rabid of partisans。
In this wise did Miguel Rapponi； then； become a member of Jim
Whitmore's Happy Family； and play his part in the events which
followed his adoption。
CHAPTER III。 Bad News
Andy Green； that honest…eyed young man whom everyone loved； but
whom not a man believed save when he was indulging his love for
more or less fantastic flights of the imagination； pulled up on
the brow of Flying U coulee and stared somberly at the picture
spread below him。 On the porch of the White House the hammock
swung gently under the weight of the Little Doctor； who pushed
her shipper…toe mechanically against a post support at regular
intervals while she read。
On the steps the Kid was crawling laboriously upward； only to
descend again quite as laboriously when he attained the top。 One
of the boys was just emerging from the blacksmith shop； from the
build of him Andy knew it must be either Weary or Irish； though
it would take a much closer observation； and some familiarity
with the two to identify the man more exactly。 In the corral were
a swirl of horses and an overhanging cloud of dust； with two or
three figures discernible in the midst； and away in the little
pasture two other figures were galloping after a fleeing dozen of
horses。 While he looked； old Patsy came out of the messhouse； and
went； with flapping flour…sack apron； to the woodpile。
Peaceful it was； and home…like and contentedly prosperous； a
little world tucked away in its hills； with its own little
triumphs and defeats； its own heartaches and rejoicings； a lucky
little world； because its triumphs had been satisfying； its
defeats small； its heartaches brief； and its rejoicings untainted
with harassment or guilt。 Yet Andy stared down upon it with a
frown； and； when he twitched the reins and began the descent； he
sighed impatiently。
Past the stable he rode with scarcely a glance toward Weary； who
shouted a casual 〃Hello〃 at him from the corral； through the big
gate and up the trail to the White House； and straight to the
porch； where the Little Doctor flipped a leaf of her magazine and
glanced at him with a smile； and the Kid turned his plump body
upon the middle step and wrinkled his nose in a smile of
recognition； while he threw out an arm in welcome； and made a
wobbling effort to get upon his feet。
Andy smiled at the Kid； but his smile did not reach his eyes； and
faded almost immediately。 He glanced at the Little Doctor； sent
his horse past the steps and the Kid； and close to the railing；
so that he could lean and toss the mail into the Little Doctor's
lap。 There was a yellow envelope among the letters； and her
fingers singled it out curiously。 Andy folded his hands upon the
saddle…horn and watched her frankly。
〃Must be from J。 G。；〃 guessed the Little Doctor； inserting a slim
finger under the badly sealed flap。 〃I've been wondering if he
wasn't going to send some wordhe's been gone a weekBaby！ He's
right between your horse's legs； Andy！ Oh…hbaby boy； what won't
you do next？〃 She scattered letters and papers from her lap and
flew to the rescue。 〃Will he kick； Andy？ You little ruffian。〃 She
held out her arms coaxingly from the top of the steps； and her
face； Andy saw when he looked at her； had lost some of its color。
〃The horse is quiet enough；〃 he reassured her。 〃But at the same
time I wouldn't hand him out as a plaything for a kid。〃 He leaned
cautiously and peered backward。
〃Ohdid you ever see such a child！ Come to mother； Baby！〃 Her
voice was becoming strained。
The Kid； wrinkling his nose； and jabbering unintelligibly at her；
so that four tiny teeth showed in his pink mouth； moved farther
backward； and sat down violently under the horse's sweat…
roughened belly。 He wriggled round so that he faced forward；
reached out gleefully； caught the front fetlocks； and cried
〃Dup！〃 while he pulled。 The Little Doctor turned white。
〃He's all right；〃 soothed Andy； and； leaning with a twist of his
slim body； caught the Kid firmly by the back of his pink dress；
and lifted him clear of danger。 He came up with a red face；
tossed the Kid into the eager arms of the Little Doctor； and
soothed his horse with soft words and a series of little slaps
upon the neck。 He was breathing unevenly； because the Kid had
really been in rather a ticklish position； but the Little Doctor
had her face hidden on the baby's neck and did not see。
〃Where's Chip？〃 Andy turned to ride back to the stable； glancing
toward the telegram lying on the floor of the porch； and from it
his eyes went to the young woman trying to laugh away her
trembling while she scolded adoringly her adventurous man…child。
He was about to speak again； but thought better of it； and
sighed。
〃Down at the stables somewhereI don't know； really； the boys
can tell you。 Mother's baby mustn't touch the naughty horses。
Naughty horses hurt mother's baby！ Make him cry！〃
Andy gave her a long look； which had in it much pity； and rode
away。 He knew what was in that telegram； for the agent had told
him when he hunted him up at Rusty Brown's and gave it to him；
and the horse of Andy bore mute tes