“I’ll treat her same as a princess, pard; but what is her name?”
“I hain’t heerd it, pard.”
“Waal, she’s a beauty, so interdooce me.”
The past guardian on the trail of the fair stranger led Horseshoe Ned up to the lady, as she came out from breakfast at the station, and said:
“Here’s whar I leaves yer, miss, but I gives yer inter charge o’ ther best driver on ther Overland, and one who has got a name as a dandy all round, take him at what yer please. He are Horseshoe Ned, miss, and he takes ther old hearse through ter ther fort, and yer see he’s got ther best coach and team on ther entire outfit.
“Don’t be skeered, though his run has been known as the Death Trail, fer on it Silk Lasso Sam and his men have been hanging out for deviltry, though that game won’t be played no more. Not knowin’ your name, miss, I can’t interdooce you ter Horeshoe Ned, only him ter you.”
“My name is——” and after a short hesitation she added the name:
“Ruth Arden, Mr. Baldy.”
Having learned the name, Baldy was not going to leave the introduction half done, so said quickly:
“Miss Ruth Arden, Horseshoe Ned, and if you don’t treat her first-class yer quarrels with me.”