“Why, certainly, brother, invite him to the ranch,” replied Miss Jean, as she busied herself with the preparations.  “It’s so kind of you to look after me.  I was listening to every word you said, and I’ve got my best bib and tucker in that hand box.  And just you watch me dazzle that Mr. Mule-buyer.  Strange you didn’t tell me sooner about his being in the country.  Here, take these boxes out to the ambulance.  And, say, I put in the middle-sized coffee pot, and do you think two packages of ground coffee will be enough?  All right, then.  Now, where’s my gloves?”

We were all dancing attendance in getting the ambulance off, but Uncle Lance never relaxed his tormenting, “Come, now, hurry up,” said he, as Jean and himself led the way to the gate where the conveyance stood waiting; “for I want you to look your best this evening, and you’ll be all tired out if you don’t get a good rest before the dance begins.  Now, in case the mule-buyer don’t show up, how about Sim Oliver?  You see, I can put in a good word there just as easily as not.  Of course, he’s a widower like myself, but you’re no spring pullet—­you wouldn’t class among the buds—­besides Sim branded eleven hundred calves last year.  And the very last time I was talking to him, he allowed he’d crowd thirteen hundred close this year—­big calf crop, you see.  Now, just why he should go to the trouble to tell me all this, unless he had his eye on you, is one too many for me.  But if you want me to cut him out of your string of eligibles, say the word, and I’ll chouse him out.  You just bet, little girl, whoever wins you has got to score right.  Great Scott! but you have good taste in selecting perfumery.  Um-ee! it makes me half drunk to walk alongside of you.  Be sure and put some of that ointment on your kerchief when you get there.”

“Really,” said Miss Jean, as they reached the ambulance, “I wish you had made a little memorandum of what I’m expected to do—­I’m all in a flutter this morning.  You see, without your help my case is hopeless.  But I think I’ll try for the mule-buyer.  I’m getting tired looking at these slab-sided cowmen.  Now, just look at those mules—­haven’t had a harness on in a month.  And Tiburcio can’t hold four of them, nohow.  Lance, it looks like you’d send one of the boys to drive me down to the ferry.”

“Why, Lord love you, girl, those mules are as gentle as kittens; and you don’t suppose I’m going to put some gringo over a veteran like Tiburcio.  Why, that old boy used to drive for Santa Anna during the invasion in ’36.  Besides, I’m sending Theodore and Glenn on horseback as a bodyguard.  Las Palomas is putting her best foot forward this morning in giving you a stylish turnout, with outriders in their Sunday livery.  And those two boys are the best ropers on the ranch, so if the mules run off just give one of your long, keen screams, and the boys will rope and hog-tie every mule in the team.  Get in now and don’t make any faces about it.”