"That's Dallas," she agreed.
He passaged in cavalry fashion until he was between her and the shack. Then he assumed a front that was cautiously humble. "Lounsbury's had the best of it," he complained. "He's known you right from the start. And this is the first chance I've ever had to know you."
She stopped toeing. "But I don't know you," she returned. "Mr. Lounsbury's never told me——"
"Well, I'll tell you: I'm Robert Fraser, from the Fort. That's really all there is to say about me. You see, I've only been in one fight—that was last fall—and I've never even killed an Indian."
She pulled nervously at her bonnet-strings. "You're a soldier," she said. "And pa—pa'd be mad as a hornet if he knew I'd spoke to you."
Fraser took another step forward. "Pa won't know," he declared.
"Promise you won't tell?" she asked, blushing consciously.
He cast about him as if to find a proper token for his vow. "I promise," he answered, hat on heart; "I promise by the Great Horn Spoon!"
"You're the first I—I ever talked to," she faltered.
"That's good!"