"Mr.
Baldwin will be glad to meet you." "Do you really mean that ?" questioned the other doubtfully.
"We don't say such things in this country if we don't mean them, Stranger," was the cool retort.
"Of course, I beg your pardon, Mr.Acton," came the confused reply.

"I should like to see the ranch.

I may--I will--That is, if I--" He stopped as if not knowing how to finish, and with a gesture of hopelessness turned away to stand silently looking back toward the town, while his face was dark with painful memories, and his lips curved in that mirthless, self-mocking smile.
And Philip Acton, seeing, felt suddenly that he had rudely intruded upon the privacy of one who had sought the solitude of that lonely place to hide the hurt of some bitter experience.

A certain native gentleness made the man of the ranges understand that this stranger was face to face with some crisis in his life--that he was passing through one of those trials through which a man must pass alone.

Had it been possible the cowboy would have apologized.