“I hope Laddy’s not mistaken in his opinion of this newcomer,” replied Mrs. Belding, with a sigh of resignation.

“Shore I never made a mistake in my life figger’n’ people,” said Laddy, stoutly.

“Yes, you have, Laddy,” replied Mrs. Belding.  “You’re wrong about Tom....Well, supper is to be got.  That young man and the girl will be starved.  I’ll go in now.  If Nell happens around don’t—­don’t flatter her, Laddy, like you did at dinner.  Don’t make her think of her looks.”

Dick heard Mrs. Belding walk away.

“Shore she’s powerful particular about that girl,” observed Laddy.  “Say, Tom, Nell knows she’s pretty, doesn’t she?”

“She’s liable to find it out unless you shut up, Laddy.  When you visited us out here some weeks ago, you kept paying cowboy compliments to her.”

“An’ it’s your idea that cowboy compliments are plumb bad for girls?”

“Downright bad, Laddy, so my wife says.”

“I’ll be darned if I believe any girl can be hurt by a little sweet talk.  It pleases ’em....But say, Beldin’, speaking of looks, have you got a peek yet at the Spanish girl?”

“Not in the light.”

“Well, neither have I in daytime.  I had enough by moonlight.  Nell is some on looks, but I’m regretful passin’ the ribbon to the lady from Mex.  Jim, where are you?”

“My money’s on Nell,” replied Lash.  “Gimme a girl with flesh an’ color, an’ blue eyes a-laughin’.  Miss Castaneda is some peach, I’ll not gainsay.  But her face seemed too white.  An’ when she flashed those eyes on me, I thought I was shot!  When she stood up there at first, thankin’ us, I felt as if a—­a princess was round somewhere.  Now, Nell is kiddish an’ sweet an’—­”

“Chop it,” interrupted Belding.  “Here comes Nell now.”

Dick’s tingling ears took in the pattering of light footsteps, the rush of some one running.

“Here you are,” cried a sweet, happy voice.  “Dad, the Senorita is perfectly lovely.  I’ve been peeping at her.  She sleeps like—­like death.  She’s so white.  Oh, I hope she won’t be ill.”

“Shore she’s only played out,” said Laddy.  “But she had spunk while it lasted....I was just arguin’ with Jim an’ Tom about Miss Castaneda.”

“Gracious!  Why, she’s beautiful.  I never saw any one so beautiful....How strange and sad, that about her!  Tell me more, Laddy.  You promised.  I’m dying to know.  I never hear anything in this awful place.  Didn’t you say the Senorita had a sweetheart?”

“Shore I did.”

“And he’s a cavalryman?”

“Yes.”

“Is he the young man who came with you?”

“Nope.  That fellow’s the one who saved the girl from Rojas.”

“Ah!  Where is he, Laddy?”

“He’s in there asleep.”

“Is he hurt?”

“I reckon not.  He walked about fifteen miles.”

“Is he—­nice, Laddy?”