"What, you bought Firefly for this boy?" exclaimed Ford in surprise.
"That's what." Then turning to Bob, he added, "Put your left foot in the stirrup and swing into the saddle. That's the way. Say, John, let Bob ride back a way with me. I want to show him a few things about a pony."
"Oh, do!" chimed in Bob.
"All right, though I was calculating to teach him myself," returned Ford, a light such as the station agent had never before seen in his eyes.
"Can I take Chester?" asked Bob.
"Come, boy," called Bob. Then noticing that Hal wanted to say a word to the ranchman, he exclaimed: "Don't tell him who I am, please." And as the agent hesitated, he added, shrewdly, "Mr. Nichols wouldn't like it."
"All right, if you say not," returned Hal.
And wheeling their ponies, the two rode off across the plains, the dog bounding joyfully along at Bob's side.
Gazing after them, even when they had disappeared from sight, stood John Ford.