Hopalong nodded. "Well, yes; I have," he answered. "But you must n't. What's his name? We 'll have to look into this."
"Joe Worth; but let's forget him for awhile," she smiled. "I 'll get the mail while you go after your horse."
He nodded and watched her enter the post-office and then turned and walked thoughtfully away. She was mounted when he returned and they swung out of the town at a lope.
"Where have you been, and what have you been doing?" she asked as they pushed along the firm, hard trail.
"Punchin' for th' Bar-20, southwest of here. I wouldn't 'a' been here today only I let th' outfit ride on without me. We just got back from Kansas City a couple of days back. But let's get at this here Joe Worth prop'sition. I 'm plumb curious. How long's he been pesterin' you?"
"Nearly two years—I can't stand it much longer."
"An' th' outfit don't cut in?"
"They 're his friends, and they understand that father wants it so. You 'll not know father, Dick: I never thought a man could change so. Mother's death broke him as though he were a reed."
"Hum!" he grunted. "You ain't carin' how this coyote is stopped, just so he is?"
"No!" she flashed.