He was roughly dressed in a waistcoat, gray-flannel shirt, with blue overalls tucked into high riding-boots; for, apart from the fact that he was well-to-do, and one of the largest stock owners in the district, he was a worker himself, and liked to superintend the running of his ranch personally.
"The wife's gone to bed long ago," he said. "I was sitting up, reading, when I heard the dogs start in to yap. Why, Mary, my girl! I thought you said you were going to stay the night at the Goddards'? They've got the measles there, eh? Well, all's well that ends well, thanks to Sergeant Benton, here. Trust you not to get left, anyway. You look pretty well played out, though. You'd better go to roost or you'll be losing your good looks. Won't she?"
"Impossible!" exclaimed the sergeant, with such fervent emphasis that a faint blush arose on the girl's rather tired face, as she thanked him again and bid him "Good-night."
He chatted awhile with Trainor, who had hospitably produced a bottle of whiskey, and presently got up and prepared to depart, refusing the latter's invitation for him to stay the night.
"Can't chance it tonight, Dave," he said. "I'm anticipating the arrival of one of our officers--Inspector Purvis. He's about due here, visiting detachments, and I don't want to be away when he comes. Thanks, all the same! No, you needn't come out. I'll off-saddle and fix up old Sam. So long."
Of lovers she had a full score, Or more, And fortunes they all had galore, In store; From the minister down To the clerk of the Crown, All were courting the Widow Malone, Ohone! All were courting the Widow Malone.
In spite of his morose and surely somewhat fantastic constancy, which obsession, be it remarked, he was rather prone to exaggerate than minimize, and the bitter, hopeless philosophy with which he had come to regard his single and seemingly inevitable lot, it must be admitted that Ellis found his mind subconsciously reverting on many occasions during the next few weeks to the girl who had so unconventionally invaded his bachelor quarters.
"Yes, begad! there _was_ a strong fascination about her," he soliloquized. She was so totally different to any other woman who had come into his lonely life. Several times, too, he found this same compelling influence answerable for his change of direction as he found himself absently swinging off the main trail north into the one that diverged east and led to the Trainors' ranch where, by now, he had come to be regarded as a regular and welcome visitor.