"
"Aw, I didn't mean to insult you, boys, don't mistake me," said Belding.
"Course he's all right."
The object of this conversation lay quiet upon his bed, thrilling and
amazed at being so championed by the cowboys, delighted with
Belding's idea of employing him, and much amused with the quaint
seriousness of the three.
"How's the young man?" called a woman's voice. It was kind and
mellow and earnest.
Gale heard footsteps on flagstones.
"He's asleep yet, wife," replied Belding. "Guess he was pretty
much knocked out....I'll close the door there so we won't wake him."
There were slow, soft steps, then the door softly closed. But the
fact scarcely made a perceptible difference in the sound of the
voices outside.
"Laddy and Jim are going to stay," went on Belding. "It'll be like
the old Panhandle days a little. I'm powerful glad to have the
boys, Nellie. You know I meant to sent to Casita to ask them.
We'll see some trouble before the revolution is ended. I think
I'll make this young man Gale an offer."
"He isn't a cowboy?" asked Mrs. Belding, quickly.
"No."
"Shore he'd make a darn good one," put in Laddy.
"What is he? Who is he? Where did he come from? Surely you must
be--"
"Laddy swears he's all right," interrupted the husband. "That's
enough reference for me. Isn't it enough for you?"
"Humph! Laddy knows a lot about young men, now doesn't he,
especially strangers from the East?...Tom, you must be careful!"
"Wife, I'm only too glad to have a nervy young chap come along.
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