"No women. Too bad. I'll send
someone, Mrs. Laramie, and Til come
myself."
"It '11 be good of you." went on
the older woman. "You see, Jim had
few friendsthat is, light iu town.
And they're been afraid to he'p us
afraid thej'd get what poor Jim"
"That's awful'" burst out Miss
Longstreth. passionately. "A bravo
77usfea story about the Texas Plains People
-V. f^Vfc.ii'lfiait *Ot _..
mmmmmm
lot of friends! Mrs. Laramie, don't
you worry any more. We'll take care
of you. Here, Ruth help me. What
ever Is the matter with baby's dress?"
Manifestly Miss Longstreth had
some difficulty in subduing her emo
tion.
"Why, It's on hind side before," de
clared Ruth. "I guess Mr. Ranger
hasn't dressed many babies."
"He did the best he could," said
Mrs. Laramie. "Lord only knows
what would have become of us!"
"Then he isIs something more
than a ranger?" queried Miss Long
streth, with a little break in her
voice.
"He's more than I can tell," replied
Mrs. Laramie. "He buried Jim. He
paid our debts. He fetched us here.
He bought food for us. He cooked for
us and fed us. He washed and dress
ed the baby. He sat with me the
first two nights after Jim's death,
when I thought I'd die myself. He's
so kind, so gentle, so patient. He has
kept me up just by being near. Some
times I'd wake from a doze, an', see
ing him there, I'd know how false
were all these tales Jim heard about
him and believed at first. Why, he
plays with the children justjust
like any good man might. When he
has the baby up I just can't believe
he's a bloody gunman, as they say.
