“Any road-houses?” asked Tisdale briefly.

“No, but you come across a ranch once in awhile, and any of them would take a man in over night—­or a lady.”

Tisdale turned to the door.  “I can find saddle-horses, I presume, at that ranch off there through the draw.  Is it the nearest?”

“The nearest and the only one.”  The station master walked on with him to the platform.  “It’s a new place.  They are working two teams, every day and Sunday, while daylight lasts, grubbing out the sage-brush for planting.  It’s a pumping layout to bring water from the Columbia, and they are starting with forty acres all in apples.”

“But they have saddle-horses?” said Tisdale, frowning.

“I can’t tell you that.  The fellow I talked with came over for freight and used one of the teams.  Said they couldn’t spare it.  But that’s your only chance.  I don’t know of any other horses in twenty miles, unless it’s a wild band that passed this morning.  They stopped down the draw, nosing out the bunch grass for an hour or two, then skidooed.”

Tisdale paused a thoughtful moment then asked:  “When is the next freight due on this siding?”

“Two-forty-five.  And say”—­he slapped his knee at the sudden thought—­ “that’s your chance, sure.  I have orders to hold them for the eastbound silk train, and they’ll let you ride in the caboose up to Kittitas.  That’s the stop this side of Ellensburg, and there’s a livery there, with a cross-road to strike the Ellensburg-Wenatchee.  But, say!  If you do drop off at Kittitas, ask Lighter to show you the colts.  They are the star team in three counties.  Took the prize at North Yakima last year for three-year-olds.  They’re too fly for livery work, but if you can drive, and Lighter likes your looks”—­the station master gave Tisdale a careful scrutiny—­“and you have his price, I shouldn’t wonder if you could hire Nip and Tuck.”

Tisdale laughed.  “I see.  If I can’t hire them, I may be allowed the privilege to buy them.  But,” and he looked at his watch, “there’s time to try that ranch.”

He started down the platform then stopped to look back at the girl who had followed a few steps from the threshold.  Her eyes held their expression of uncertainty whether to sparkle or to cloud, and he read the arrested question on her lips.  “If there are any saddle-horses,” he answered, “I will have them here before that two-forty-five freight arrives, but,” and he smiled, “I am not so sure I can supply the proper riding-suit.  And the most I hope for in saddles is just a small Mexican.”

“A Mexican is easy riding,” she said, “on a mountain road.”  But she stood watching him, with the uncertainty still clouding her face, while he moved down the draw.