"Well, Frank, it's you, is it? I'm terrible glad to see you. How are you?" Mr. Baker's greeting was cordial. "Who's your friend? What's his name?" he added, noticing John for the first time.
He was introduced, and the warm grasp of the hand that John got from the old ranchman won him at once.
"Mrs. Baker will bubble over when she sees you, Frank. Tie your horses and come in."
A long hitching rail ran along the front of the shack, and to this Frank and John made their horses fast.
Mrs. Baker's greeting was even more cordial than her husband's, and the youngster looked on at the display of affection rather wistfully. Nor was he ignored in the general greetings.
"You're just the fellow I want to see, Frank," said the cheerful, kindly, buxom, albeit gray-haired ranchman's wife. "Mr. B.'s getting kinder old to be chasing round the ranch looking after cattle and the range-riders, and I want you to see to all that so I can keep Mr. Baker at home. Will you do it?" She looked from her husband to Frank and back again.
"I'm looking for a job, and so's my friend Worth here. If you'll take us both I'll be glad to stay," and Frank began to enlarge on John's virtues, and told how they had shared the same bed. He characterized him as a "plumb good feller."
"Of course he can get to work," said the couple together.
"Got a saddle?" asked the old man.
"Yes, I've got a good outfit," answered the boy.