“But as my sister sent him to get me I can only—”

“Pardon me,” interrupted Cal, curtly. “I’m glad to get out of takin’ you. But I advise you to go with my cousin Wess. For if you go with Hatfield you will not be welcome at Green Valley. I’m tellin’ you this for your sister’s sake.”

Cal turned away, leaving the girl both affronted and troubled. At this juncture someone shouted from the store, “Cal Thurman, you’re wanted on the phone.”

“Who wants me?” called Cal.

“It’s Miss Stockwell, the teacher. She’s callin’ from the ranger station.”

Cal plodded up the steps and into the store, looking neither right nor left. He was aware of footsteps following him in, but he was too miserable to take any further notice of anyone.

“Hello!” he called into the telephone.

“Hello! Is that you, Cal?” was the eager reply.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“This is Mary Stockwell talking . . . Cal, has the stage come with my sister?”

“I reckon so,” replied Cal, grimly.

“Oh—oh—Cal, dear boy, is she all right?”

“I reckon so.”

“Oh—hurry, Cal! Fetch her out. I’m wild to see her.—And, Cal, you’re glad now I made you go, aren’t you? You’ll forgive me for fooling you—about the picture?”

“I’ll never forgive you—never,” blurted out Cal, hoarsely.

There was no instant response. Then the teacher’s voice came again, different in tone. “Why, Cal—you don’t mean that! It was only fun. You’ve played jokes on me. And I thought this would please you. I was so glad you alone of the boys offered to go—to meet what you supposed would be a cross, ugly old maid. It was fine of you, Cal.—Why are you offended—why won’t you forgive me?”

“Aw, because I’ve been made a damn fool before a crowd,” replied Cal. “Wess an’ the boys came in to play some low-down trick on me. . . . You see, teacher, I was lookin’ for—for the person who’d look like the picture you showed me. An’ when a—a pretty kid of a girl hops out of the stage I—I never thought it might be your sister. I was the last to find that out. . . . Then—someone I’ve no use for went up to her—an’ when I woke up an’ introduced myself—said you’d sent me to meet her—then—then she insulted me right before him—an’ all the crowd.”

“Insulted you! Oh, Cal, don’t say that,” returned Miss Stockwell, in distress. “I’m sorry, Cal.