"Let's all quit work for the day," she said. "I don't come to camp often."
Old Silent looked at her with all the pretense at being stern that he could command in the presence of his daughter.
"Who's going to build this railroad?" he asked, a smile growing upon his features.
Cherry kissed her father and patted his cheeks playfully again. "Old Silent is," she said; "but his daughter, Cherry McBain, is going to make his men glad she came. She's going to make them want her back again."
"You buy your popularity at a very high price," he replied.
"Remember—I have a husband who does as I tell him," Cherry returned. "If you don't call the men in—I'll tell him to do it."
Keith McBain looked at King and then put his arm about his daughter. The look carried a meaning, and King turned towards the men and gave the call.
"All in!"
The men responded as if they had been expecting the call, and almost at once the works were deserted and the men were trooping off in the direction of the camp. The little group of three were the last to leave the grade. They lingered a long time talking and looking over the work the men had done during the day. Then they walked off together, King and Cherry on either side of the old man, the two horses following behind them with the bridle-reins hanging across their necks, Sal leisurely bringing up the rear.
"And won't you be leaving this work soon and coming to stay with us?" King asked of Keith McBain when they had come almost to the camp.