"Sure it is," answered her father. "That's what makes me out of patience with them. They're—they're better men than most of us, and—well, they make a fellow feel rather small at times."
Then he went away, and Gail puzzled over his concluding remark.
A week to a day after her first visit she drove again to Jed's ranch.
"I came over to see the Captain," she told the old man gayly.
"Well, th' Captain ain't here now," he answered, beaming on her; "but VB'll be back with him before noon."
She looked for what seemed to be an unnecessarily long time at her watch, and then asked:
"Is that his name?"
"What—th' Captain?"
"No—VB."
Jed laughed silently at her.