“Now listen, Dad!  It’s not a joke.  I’m in deadly earnest.  I haven’t got a particle of religion in me but I’m interested in that line of talk to see if I can discover what other folks get out of it.  Peter Knight is not a fool.  He knows the world and he says Lost Chief needs a church.  All right, it’s going to have one.”

“Peter Knight is some advocate, all right!” growled John.  “He’s always saying he had a religious up-bringing, and look at him!  Fourth-class postmaster in a cow valley!”

“I don’t suppose his religious up-bringing had a thing to do with that,” said Douglas.

“Then what’s the good of a religion?” John’s voice was triumphant.  Douglas said nothing and his father went on.  “You’ll be the laughing-stock of the Valley.  You can let on you won’t care, but I know you will.”

“Yes, I’ll care,” admitted Douglas.  “But that can’t be helped.  It seems to be a part of the game.”

“Well, he can’t come to this house!” roared John.  “I wouldn’t have one of that breed on the place.  Mind you keep him off this ranch, Doug.”

“I expected you to say that.”  Douglas’ jaw was set.  “That’s why I plan to build him a cabin up on my section.  Grandfather’s old cabin isn’t worth fixing up.”

He did not look at Judith as he spoke.  Had he done so he would have been puzzled by the wistfulness in her eyes.

“I sure wonder, Doug,” said John irritably, “where you get your crazy notions!”

“He’s exactly like his grandfather Douglas!” exclaimed Mary.

“His grandfather Douglas!” cried John.  “Why, the old man would kick the stones off his grave if he knew what his grandson was up to.  He used to boast that he came West just to get rid of the Presbyterians and the Allopaths.  Nothing he hated like a sky pilot!”

Douglas rose and shrugged his shoulders.  “Well,” he said, “if I’m as popular with the rest of the Valley as I am with my family, I’m liable to have my head turned before this thing is over,” and he went out to attend to his chores.

As he paused by the corral fence to watch the little wild horse standing motionless over the untasted hay, Judith joined him.

“Looks as if Dad might be right about her,” he said.

“I’d like to try my hand at her, Douglas.”  Judith’s voice was eager.

“You may have her, Jude.  I was hoping to bring you in two or three, but Fate said otherwise.”

“I’m much obliged to you, Douglas,” said Judith soberly.  “You are always mighty generous—­” She hesitated for a moment.  “I wish you weren’t going in for this thing with the preacher, Doug.”

“O well, let’s drop the matter!” said Douglas wearily, and without a word further Judith turned away.

The next morning at breakfast, John was irritable and would not let the subject of Fowler’s coming rest.

“What did Charleton say?” he asked.

“Charleton doesn’t know,” replied Douglas, patiently.  “He wasn’t there when I talked it over with the preacher.”