“NO SMOKING ALOUD.”

Pete did not see the joke, but he laughed heartily with the rest.  The laughter had just about subsided when a voice came from across the way:  “Jim, you come right straight to bed!”

Bailey indicated a bunk for Pete and stepped from the bunk-house.

Presently the boys heard Mrs. Bailey’s voice.  “Good-night, boys.”

“Good-night, Ma!” they chorused heartily.

And “Good-night, Pete,” came from the house.

“Good-night, Ma!” shrilled Pete, blushing.

“I’m plumb sore!” asserted Haskins. “‘Good-night, boys,’ is good enough for us.  But did you hear what come after!  I kin see who gits all the extra pie around this here ranch!  I’ve half a mind to quit.”

“What—­eatin’ pie?”

“Nope!  Joshin’ Ma.  She allus gits the best of us.”

CHAPTER XI

POP ANNERSLEY’S BOY

Several days after Pete’s arrival at the Concho ranch, Andy White rode in with a companion, dusty, tired, and hungry from a sojourn over near the Apache line.  White made his report to the foreman, unsaddled, and was washing with a great deal of splutter and elbow-motion, when some one slapped him on the back.  He turned a dripping face to behold Pete grinning at him.

Andy’s eyes lighted with pleasure.  He stuck out a wet hand.  “Did you land a job?”

“With both feet.”

“Good!  I was so darned tired I clean forgot you was livin’.  Say, I saw ole Jose this afternoon.  We was crossin’ the bottom and rode into his camp.  He said you had quit him.  I asked him if you come up here, but he only shook his head and handed me the usual ‘Quien sabe?’ He’ll never git a sore throat from talkin’ too much.  Say, wait till I git some of this here alkali out of my ears and we’ll go and eat and then have a smoke and talk it out.  Gee!  But I’m glad you landed!  How’d you work it?”

“Easy.  I rid that there Blue Smoke hoss—­give ’em an exhibition of real ridin’ and the fo’man sure fell for my style.”

“Uh-huh.  What kind of a fall did you make?”

“Well, I wasn’t in shape to know—­till I come to.  The fellas said I done all right till ole Smoke done that little double twist and left me standin’ in the air—­only with my feet up.  I ain’t jest lovin’ that hoss a whole lot.”

Andy nodded sagely.  “I tried him onct.  So Bailey give you a job, eh?”

“Kind of a job.  Mostly peelin’ potatoes and helpin’ round the house.  Ma Bailey says I’m worth any two of the men helpin’ round the house.  And I found out one thing—­what Ma Bailey says round here goes.”

“You bet!  She’s the boss.  If Ma don’t like a guy, he don’t work long for the Concho.  I recollect when Steve Gary quit over the T-Bar-T and come over here lookin’ for a job.  Ma she sized him up, but didn’t say nothin’ right away.  But Gary he didn’t stay long enough to git a saddle warm.  Ma didn’t like him, nohow.  He sure was a top-hand—­but that didn’t help him none.  He’s over to the T-Bar-T now.  Seen him the other day.  He’s got some kind of a drag there, for they took him back.  Folks says—­say, what’s bitin’ you?”