Doris was not altogether pleased by Pete’s levity and her face showed it.  She did not smile, but rearranged the things on the tray in a preoccupied manner, and asked him if there was anything else he wanted.

“Lemme see?” Pete frowned prodigiously.  “Got salt and pepper and butter and sugar; but I reckon you forgot somethin’ that I’m wantin’ a whole lot.”

“What is it?”

“You’re forgittin’ to smile.”

“I read that letter from Mr. Bailey.”

“I’m mighty glad you did, Miss Gray.  I wanted you to know what was in that letter.  You’d sure like Ma Bailey, and Jim and Andy.  Andy was my pardner—­when—­afore I had that trouble with Steve Gary.  No use tryin’ to step round it now.  I reckon you know all about it.”

“And you will be going back to them—­to your friends on the ranch?”

“Well—­I aim to.  I got to go over to Sanborn first.”

“Sanborn?  Do you mean—?”

“Jest what you’re thinkin’, Miss Gray.  I seen a spell back how you was wonderin’ that I could josh about my grub, and Doc Andover.  Well, I got in bad, and I ain’t blamin’ nobody—­and I ain’t blamin’ myself—­and that’s why I ain’t hangin’ my head about anything I done.  And I ain’t kickin’ because I got started on the wrong foot. I’m figurin’ how I kin git started on the other foot—­and keep a-goin’.”

“But why should you tell me about these things?  I can’t help you.  And it seems terrible to think about them.  If I were a man—­like Dr. Andover—­”

“I reckon you’re right,” said Pete.  “I got no business loadin’ you up with all my troubles.  I’m goin’ to quit it.  Only you been kind o’ like a pardner—­and it sure was lonesome, layin’ here and thinkin’ about everything, and not sayin’ a word to nobody.  But I jest want you to know that I didn’t kill Sam Brent—­but I sure would ‘a’ got him—­if somebody hadn’t been a flash quicker than me, that night.  Brent was after the money we was packin’, and he meant business.”

“You mean that—­some one killed him in self-defense?”

“That’s the idee.  It was him or us.”

“Then why don’t you tell the police that?”

“I sure aim to.  But what they want to know is who the fella was that got Brent.”

“But the papers say that the other man escaped.”

“Which is right.”

“And you won’t tell who he is?”

“Nope.”

“But why not—­if it means your own freedom?”

“Mebby because they wouldn’t believe me anyhow.”

“I don’t think that is your real reason.  Oh, I forgot to return your letter.  I’ll bring it next time.”

“I’ll be goin’ Thursday.  Doc Andover he’s goin’ over to Sanborn and he ast me to go along with him.”

“You mean—­to stay?”

“For a spell, anyhow.  But I’m comin’ back.”

Doris glanced at her wrist watch and realized that it was long past the hour for the evening meal.  “I’m going out to my sister’s to-morrow, for the day.  I may not see you before you leave,”