Page 168 of 439

Steve grinned. "This is awful sudden, Tennessee. You must a-been

sawing wood right industrious on the hawssback ride and down in

the tunnel. I expect there wasn't any sunshine down there, was

there?"

"You go to grass, Steve."

"No, Tennessee is ce'tainly no two-bit man. Lemme see.

One--two--three--four days. That's surely going some," the ranger

soliloquized.

"Mr. Fraser," the young woman reproved with a blush.

"Don't mind him, Peggy. He's merely jealous," came back Larry.

"Course I'm jealous. Whyfor not? What license have these

Panhandle guys to come in and tote off our girls? But don't mind

me. I'll pay strict attention to my ham and eggs and not see a

thing that's going on."

"Lieutenant!" Miss Margaret was both embarrassed and shocked.

"Want me to shut my eyes, Tennessee?"

"Next time we get engaged you'll not be let in on the ground

floor," Neill predicted.

"Four days! My, my! If that ain't rapid transit for fair!"