Chip stared frankly, and measured the slender figure from accurately dented hat-crown to tiny shoe-tips.  “Well, yuh sure don’t look it,” he said bluntly, at length.  “Why that elaborate disguise of respectability?”

Pink sat him down on an empty beer case in the shade of the saloon and daintily rolled a cigarette.

“Yuh see, it’s like this,” he began, in his soft voice.  “When the Cross L moved their stock across the line Rowdy Vaughan had charge uh the outfit; and, seeing we’re pretty good friends, uh course I went along.  I hadn’t been over there a month till I had occasion t’ thump the daylights out uh one uh them bone-headed grangers that vitiates the atmosphere up there; and I put him all to the bad.  So a bunch uh them gaudy buck-policemen rose up and fogged me back across the line; a man has sure got t’ turn the other cheek up there, or languish in ga-ol.”

Pink brought the last word out as if it did not taste good.

“I hit for the home range, which is Upper Milk River.  But it was cussed lonesome with all the old bunch gone; so I sold my outfit and quit cow-punching for good.  I wonder if the puncher lives that didn’t sell his saddle and bed, and reform at least once in his checkered career!

“I had a fair-sized roll so I took the home trail back to Minnesota, and chewed on the fatted calf all last winter and this summer.  It wasn’t bad, only the girls run in bunches and are dead anxious to tie up to some male human.  I dubbed around and dodged the loop long as I could stand it, and then I drifted.

“I kinda got hungry for the feel of a good horse between m’ legs once more.  It made me mad to see houses on every decent bed-ground, and fences so thick yuh couldn’t get out and fan the breeze if yuh tried.  I tell yuh straight, old-timer, last month I was home I plumb wore out mother’s clothes-line roping the gate-post.  For the Lord’s sake, stake me to a string! and I don’t give a damn how rough a one it is!”

Chip sat down on a neighboring case and regarded the dapper little figure curiously.  Such words, coming from those girlishly rosy lips, with the dimples dodging in and out of his pink cheeks, had an odd effect of unreality.  But Pink plainly was in earnest.  His eyes behind the dancing light of harmless deviltry, were pleading and wistful as a child.

“You’re it!” said Chip relievedly.  “You can go right to work.  Seems you’re the man I’ve been looking for, only I will say I didn’t recognize yuh on sight.  We’ve got a heap of work ahead, and only five decent men in the outfit.  It’s the Flying U; and these five have worked for the outfit for years.”

“I sure savvy that bunch,” Pink declared sweetly.  “I’ve heard uh the Happy Family before.  Ain’t you one uh them?”

Chip grinned reminiscently.  “I was,” he admitted, a shade of regret in his voice.  “Maybe I am yet; only I went up a notch last spring.  Got married, and settled down.  I’m one of the firm now, so I had to reform and cut out the foolishness.  Folks have got to calling the rest the Frivolous Five.  They’re a pretty nifty bunch, but you’ll get on, all right, seeing you’re not the pilgrim you look to be.  If you were, I’d say:  ‘The Lord help you!’ Got an outfit?”