"That's just it! The boy Collie says the tramp Overland Red didn't kill the man. He was trying to save him and gave him water. If you could only hear what the boy says about it--"
"I don't suppose it would do any harm," said the rancher. "I dislike to use my influence. You know, I practically control Dick Tenlow's place at the elections."
"That's just why he should be willing to let the boy go," said Louise quickly.
"No, sweetheart. That's just why I shouldn't ask Dick to do anything of the kind. But I see I'm in for it. You have already interested your Aunt Eleanor. She spoke to me about the boy last night."
"Aunty Eleanor is a dear. I didn't really ask her to speak to you."
"No," he said, laughing. "Of course not. You're too clever for that. You simply sow your poppy-seed and leave it alone. The poppies come up fast enough."
Louise laughed softly. "You're pretending to criticize and you're really flattering,--deliberately,--aren't you, Uncle Walter?"
"Because Aunt Eleanor said you could be simply irresistible when you wanted to be. I think so, too. Especially when you are on a horse."
"Naturally. I always did feel more confident in the saddle. I could, if need arose, ride away like the chap in Bobby Burns's verse, you remember--
"He gave his bridle-rein a shake, And turned him on the shore, With, 'Farewell, forever more, my dear, Farewell, forever more.'"
"But you didn't, uncle. Aunty said she used to be almost afraid that you'd ride away with her, like Lochinvar."
"Oh, Uncle Walter! That sounded full of regrets and things."
"It isn't fifty. It's a lack of exercise. And you wouldn't be half so fine-looking if you were fat. I _always_ sigh when I don't know what to do. Then I just saddle Boy and ride. And I'll _never_ let myself get fat."
"Now I _know_ you need exercise. You're getting reminiscent, and that's a sign of torpid liver."
Walter Stone laughed till the tears came. "Exercise!" he exclaimed. "Ah! I begin to divine a subtle method in your doctrine of health. Ah, ha! I look well on a horse! I need exercise! It's a very satisfactory ride from here to town and back. Incidentally, Louise, I smell a rat. I used to be able to hold my own."
"It isn't my fault if you don't now," said Louise, snuggling in his arm.