LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
[ The Cow Puncher . . . . . . Frontispiece ]
[ These long rides afforded her many side-lights on the remarkable nature of her escort. ]
[ "You aren't talking to-day … what's wrong?" ]
[ "There is only one answer, Dave. Because I love you." ]
THE COW PUNCHER
CHAPTER ONE
The shadows of the spruce trees fell north-eastward, pointing long, cool fingers across belts of undulating prairie, or leaning lazily against the brown foothills. Like an incandescent globe the afternoon sun hung in the bowl of a cloudless heaven, filmy with heat, but the hot rays were met by the high altitude of the ranch country and lost their force like a blow half struck. And among the spruce trees it was cool and green, and clear blue water rippled over beds of shining gravel.