Inwardly he was raging, and he cursed the judge for a meddlesome old fool.
"Hm-m! Thought you'd sneak down there, unobserved, probably." There was a pause; then the speaker went on in an altered tone: "D'you suppose she has forgotten all her native accomplishments, Tom?
I wonder if she can still ride and rope and shoot, or if those thin-blooded Eastern schoolma'ams have taught her that such things are unladylike and coarse." "Pshaw! You never forget how to do those things." "She could handle a horse or a rope or a gun as well as you at your best." "_Better!_" Tom declared, with swelling pride.
Halloran wagged his white head in agreement, an unusual procedure, inasmuch as he never agreed with Tom on any subject which offered possible ground for disagreement.

"A wonderful girl! And I'll wager they haven't spoiled her.

Even _you_ couldn't spoil 'Bob.'" He raised his red, belligerent eyes and fixed them upon his old friend, but there was now a kindly light in them.

"You made a real son of her, didn't you, Tom ?" "Almost.

I was mighty disappointed because she was a girl, but--I don't know as a boy could of turned out much better.